Can we predict the risk factors for switching due to ineffectiveness in the first year of therapy with bDMARD in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

Introduction

Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) have improved the clinical course and quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, some patients failed to respond or have an insufficient response to bDMARD early in the course of the treatment.

Objectives

To determine the percentage of RA patients who need to switch due to ineffectiveness in the first year of treatment and to identify specific baseline features as possible predictors of switch due to ineffectiveness in the first year of treatment.

Materials and methods

An observational retrospective study was conducted with patients with RA that started their first bDMARD. Demographic data, disease characteristics, disease activity data scores, laboratory parameters and treatment at baseline were collected. The proportion of patients who failed to respond and who switched to another bDMARD in the first year of treatment was calculated.

Results

A total of 437 (364 females, 83.3%) patients with RA were included. The majority of these patients started an anti-TNF-α agent (n = 315, 72.1%). Forty-eight (11.0%) patients failed to respond to the bDMARD in the first year of treatment. There were significantly more current or former smokers (p = 0.030), with a history of depression (p = 0.003) and positive for RF at baseline (p = 0.014) in the switch group.

In the multivariate analysis, anti-TNF-α agents use (OR 8.3, 95% CI 2.4–28.8, p = 0.001), tobacco exposure (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.8, p = 0.02) and history of depression (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3–7.7) seem to predict the need to switch in the first year of treatment due to ineffectiveness.

Discussion and conclusion

In our study, tobacco exposure and depression appear to be modifiable risk factors associated with early switching due to ineffectiveness. Addressing these factors in daily clinical practice is crucial to enhance the overall response to therapy and improve the well-being of patients.