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Sugihara T, Kawahito Y, Kaneko Y, Tanaka E, Yanai R, Yajima N, Kojima M, Harigai M. Systematic review for the treatment of older rheumatoid arthritis patients informing the 2024 update of the Japan College of Rheumatology clinical practice guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Mod Rheumatol 2024; 34:867-880. [PMID: 38445746 DOI: 10.1093/mr/roae026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To update an evidence base informing the 2024 Japan College of Rheumatology clinical practice guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in older adults. METHODS Four clinical questions (CQs) regarding efficacy and safety of drug treatment were evaluated, with CQ1 addressing methotrexate (MTX), CQ2 biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, CQ3 Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and CQ4 glucocorticoids (GCs). Quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. RESULTS Observational studies confirmed a pivotal role of methotrexate in the treatment of older RA patients. The meta-analysis showed that tumour necrosis factor inhibitors and JAK inhibitors were unequivocally effective in older RA patients. No data indicated that biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were unsafe for older patients. No safety data for JAK inhibitor use in older patients were available. One randomized controlled trial demonstrated that long-term treatment with low-dose GCs increased risks of GC-associated adverse events. The certainty of overall evidence was very low for all CQs. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review provides the necessary evidence for developing 2024 Japan College of Rheumatology clinical practice guidelines for managing older patients with RA. Continued updates on the evidence of JAK inhibitors and GC are desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiko Sugihara
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kawahito
- Inflammation and Immunology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuko Kaneko
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eiichi Tanaka
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Yanai
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Yajima
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayo Kojima
- Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Harigai
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Sugihara T, Tanaka E, Matsui T. Low-Dose Glucocorticoids in Older Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Does the Evidence Say? Drugs Aging 2024:10.1007/s40266-024-01133-w. [PMID: 39066877 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-024-01133-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
The short-term use of glucocorticoids (GCs) in combination with methotrexate was recommended for the initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by the European League Against Rheumatism. A randomized controlled trial (GLORIA) showed that treatment of older patients with low-dose GCs in combination with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs was more efficacious than disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs plus placebo in terms of disease activity control and prevention of joint destruction. Glucocorticoid-related adverse events were likely to increase relative to placebo, with no increase in serious adverse events and fractures over 2 years. Observational studies showed an increased risk of serious infections, cardiovascular events, and fractures associated with long-term continuation of GCs in older patients, but the adverse events may be associated not only with GC toxicity but also with poor disease control of rheumatoid arthritis. In the GLORIA study, low-dose GCs during 2 years could be tapered off safely, but many patients had a flare of disease activity after discontinuation of GCs. In the two representative large Japanese registries (IORRA and NinJa), the proportion of patients using GCs and non-tumor necrosis factor inhibitors increased with increasing age at disease onset, with a decreasing trend in methotrexate use. The proportion of patients in remission with GC treatment also increased with increasing age at onset. These suggested that it is not easy to discontinue GCs in older patients. If GCs cannot be terminated in the short term, it may be acceptable to use GCs to control disease activity for up to 2 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiko Sugihara
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University School of Medicine, 6-11-1 Omori-Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 143-8541, Japan.
| | - Eiichi Tanaka
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Matsui
- Department of Rheumatology Research, Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization Sagamihara National Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
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Matsumoto T, Sugihara T, Hosoya T, Ishizaki T, Kubo K, Kamiya M, Baba H, Tsuchida M, Hirano F, Kojima M, Miyasaka N, Harigai M. Effectiveness and safety of treat-to-target strategy for methotrexate-naïve rheumatoid arthritis patients >75 years of age. Rheumatol Adv Pract 2024; 8:rkae019. [PMID: 38425693 PMCID: PMC10904149 DOI: 10.1093/rap/rkae019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives To identify differences in effectiveness and safety of a treat-to-target (T2T) strategy comparing late-onset MTX-naïve RA patients (LORA) ≥75 or <75 years of age. Methods Treatment was adjusted to target low disease activity with conventional synthetic DMARDs followed by biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) in LORA ≥75 years (n = 98, mean age 80.0 years) and LORA <75 years (n = 99) with moderate-high disease activity. Achievement of Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) remission at week 156 by non-responder imputation analysis was evaluated as a primary outcome. Results LORA ≥75 years had more comorbidities than LORA <75 years, but SDAI and ACPA positivity were similar at baseline. Of the LORA ≥75 years, 70.4% started MTX and 34.1% and 37.1% received a bDMARD at week 52 and 156, respectively (very similar to the LORA <75 years). Glucocorticoid use was more frequent in the LORA ≥75 years than in the LORA <75 years. Comorbidities/adverse events more frequently contributed to the reasons for non-adherence to T2T in the LORA ≥75 than in the LORA <75. At week 156, 32.7% of the LORA ≥75 and 66.7% of the LORA <75 achieved SDAI remission (P < 0.001). The cumulative incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs) over 156 weeks was 42.8% in the LORA ≥75 and 22.1% in the LORA <75. Multivariable analysis indicated an increased risk of SDAI non-remission at week 156 in the LORA ≥75 [odds ratio 2.82 (95% CI 1.29. 6.14)] after adjusting for comorbidities at baseline, non-adherence to T2T and SAEs. Conclusions It was more difficult to achieve remission in the LORA ≥75 patients than in the LORA <75 patients due to both poor treatment response and safety issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Matsumoto
- Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiko Sugihara
- Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Human Care Research Team, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tadashi Hosoya
- Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuro Ishizaki
- Human Care Research Team, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kanae Kubo
- Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mari Kamiya
- Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Baba
- Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Marina Tsuchida
- Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumio Hirano
- Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayo Kojima
- Department of Frailty Research, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Miyasaka
- Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Harigai
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Women’s Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Challenges in the management of older patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2022; 18:326-334. [PMID: 35314796 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-022-00768-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The rise in the number of people aged 65 years and older living with inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis is causing considerable challenges for clinicians. As patients get older, they are at an increased risk of multiple chronic diseases, a situation termed multimorbidity. Multimorbidity inevitably drives polypharmacy, where by a patient requires treatment with multiple medications. In addition, advancing age, multimorbidity and polypharmacy all place a patient at an increased risk of developing geriatric syndromes, which are clinical conditions in older people that do not fit into disease categories and include malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty. Geriatric syndromes further increase the risk of adverse outcomes, including the accrual of additional morbidity, nursing home admission and mortality. Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases are especially prone to developing geriatric syndromes. Some predisposing risk factors for geriatric syndromes, such as joint swelling and functional limitations, are also inherent to rheumatic inflammatory disease itself. The frequent coexistence of multimorbidity, polypharmacy and geriatric syndromes in this patient group requires individually tailored interventions to preserve patient independence and overall functioning. To prepare for the changing demography, rheumatologists should gain more insight into the implications of multimorbidity, polypharmacy and geriatric syndromes for the management of older patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
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An Analysis of Real-World Data on the Safety of Etanercept in Older Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Drugs Aging 2019; 37:35-41. [PMID: 31712995 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-019-00721-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to use real-world data to evaluate potential interactions between age, treatment, and the risk of developing four adverse events (AEs) common in the elderly: congestive heart failure, serious infections, non-melanoma skin cancer, and interstitial lung disease. These AEs were identified as important in a prior age-based analysis (≤ 65 vs > 65 years) of etanercept- or placebo-treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in controlled clinical trials. METHODS Real-world data (1 January 2013 to 31 January 2018) were obtained from the IBM Watson Health MarketScan® Database. Patients were included if aged ≥ 18 years, enrolled for ≥ 1 year prior to RA diagnosis, and without any of the four AEs of interest prior to RA diagnosis or between RA diagnosis and first etanercept exposure. Logistic regression analysis was applied following propensity matching of patients receiving or not receiving etanercept based on age at diagnosis, age status at the beginning of observation (> 65 years or not), sex, geographic region, and follow-up duration. RESULTS The overall cohort comprised 403,689 patients. The absolute risk of each of the four AEs increased with age. In propensity-matched cohorts, etanercept was associated with significantly higher odds of developing each of the four AEs (p < 0.001 for all). However, the relative risk of experiencing the four AEs in patients who received etanercept versus those who did not was similar between patients ≤ 65 years of age and those > 65 years of age. CONCLUSIONS In patients with RA, the relative increase in etanercept-associated risk of experiencing congestive heart failure, serious infection, non-melanoma skin cancer, or interstitial lung disease was similar between elderly and non-elderly.
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