Greater likelihood of remission in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated earlier in the disease course: results from the Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America registry

Daniel E. Furst, University of California
Aileen L. Pangan, Abbott Laboratories
Leslie R. Harrold, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Hong Chang, Tufts Medical Center
George W. Reed, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Joel Kremer, Albany Medical College
Jeffrey D. Greenberg, New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether disease duration is an independent predictor of achieving remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients initiating therapy.

METHODS: RA patients in the Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America registry newly prescribed a nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) or anti--tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) with at least one followup visit were identified.

RESULTS: Among the 1,646 nonbiologic DMARD initiators, CDAI remission occurred in 21.3% of those with ≤5 years of disease duration, 19.6% with 6-10 years, and 13.5% with greater than or equal to 11 years (P < 0.001); sustained remission occurred in 10.2%, 8.8%, and 2.5%, respectively (P < 0.001). Results were similar among the 3,179 anti-TNF initiators (CDAI remission in 22.3%, 17.7%, and 12.8%, respectively [P < 0.001]; CDAI sustained remission in 9.7%, 9.5%, and 4.2%, respectively [P < 0.001]). DAS28 results were similar in both groups. In adjusted analyses, an increase of disease duration by 5 years was associated with a reduced likelihood of CDAI remission in nonbiologic DMARD (odds ratio [OR] 0.91, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.83-0.99) and anti-TNF initiators (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.83-0.94). A similar result was seen for sustained remission using the CDAI (nonbiologic DMARD: OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.48-0.76; anti-TNF: OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75-0.97).

CONCLUSION: Earlier treatment was associated with a greater likelihood of remission.