Kaitlyn D’Onofrio

DocwireNews

Three out of four <a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/rheumatology-picks/vegan-diet-may-improve-ra-symptoms/">rheumatoid arthritis</a> (RA) patients say they are not happy with their current <a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/rheumatology-picks/newhope-for-chronicpain/">treatment</a> plan, a new <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40744-019-00168-5#enumeration">study</a> has discovered.&ldquo;The introduction and increasingly standard use of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or bDMARDs, alongside other novel treatments for people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has improved the expected long-term prognosis for patients. These medications are proven to improve disease symptoms and to reduce inflammation and joint damage caused by the autoimmune disease. However, given the variable nature of RA and since each patient responds differently to these complex medications, the American College of Rheumatology recommends a treat-to-target approach where the patient and rheumatologist set goals for treatment effectiveness and make adjustments over time,&rdquo; said study author W. Benjamin Nowell, PhD, director, Patient-Centered Research, CreakyJoints and principal investigator of ArthritisPower, in an interview with DocWire News.To gain insight into how RA patients feel about these <a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/rheumatology-picks/a-comparison-of-biosimilar-versus-originator-rituximab-in-ra-and-non-hodgkins-lymphoma/">treatments</a>, the researchers conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey from December 2017 through January 2018. RA patients aged &ge;&thinsp;21 years with at least one failed disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) who had been on their current DMARD(s) for at least six months were eligible to participate. Patients filled out a 50-question survey regarding treatment history, symptoms, and flares, and they responded to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) questionnaire and the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM). Treatment satisfaction was defined as a TSQM global satisfaction score&thinsp;&ge;&thinsp;80.<h2>Most Patients Are Not Happy with Current Treatment</h2>Final analysis included responses from 258 patients, most of whom were dissatisfied with their current RA <a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/rheumatology-picks/taltz-vs-cosentyx-how-do-these-rheumatic-drugs-compare/">treatment</a>.&ldquo;Despite the variety of available medications, including bDMARDs, the study found that 74% of respondents with RA (n=258) expressed dissatisfaction with their treatment. Even while on treatment, respondents reported experiencing bothersome symptoms such as fatigue (82%), pain (76%) and physical limitations (75%), which negatively impacted their quality of life,&rdquo; said Dr. Nowell. &ldquo;One of the primary goals with a treat-to-target strategy is to reduce inflammation and pain, yet this study found that despite active treatment most respondents with RA still had either moderate disease activity (37%) or high disease activity (33%). Few respondents reported achieving remission (16%) or low disease activity (13%) with their current treatment.&rdquo;While the numbers are disappointing, the outcome did not come as a surprise to Seth Ginsberg, president and co-founder of CreakyJoints.&ldquo;It can take months or years to cycle through different treatments to find one that works effectively,&rdquo; he told DocWire News. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s most worrisome is that people are experiencing bothersome symptoms but not always seeking to try something new, under consultation with their doctor.&rdquo;Dr. Nowell believes that one reason for this may be the daunting thought of starting the medication process anew.&ldquo;It can be scary for patients to countenance changes to their medications, even when something isn&rsquo;t working optimally to manage their disease,&rdquo; he explained. &ldquo;Future research is required to better understand what motivates patients and their physicians to initiate and follow through on a treatment change.&rdquo;Two keys to combat this concern are communication and patient empowerment, according to Mr. Ginsberg.&ldquo;This study makes it clear that there is an urgent need to help patients and rheumatologists communicate better and empower patients to ask for a treatment change if they aren&rsquo;t getting relief from symptoms and pain,&rdquo; he said.

Bradley Marder, MD

Joel M. Topf, MD, FACP

Gout Studies: Transplant Waitlisting and Bone Erosion

NKF Spring Clinical Meetings 2025

Jayme Locke, MD, MPH

The Promise of Xenotransplantation

Leah Lawrence

Real-World Data Backs Invasive DFS as Surrogate Endpoint for OS in EBC

HR Breast Cancer

Latest News

Most Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Are Dissatisfied with Treatment

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Three out of four rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients say they are not happy with their current treatment plan, a new study has discovered. ...

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertising

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Contribute

Career Center

MashupMD

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

GU Oncology Now

Urban Health Today

Bile Duct Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Gastric Cancer

GEP-NETs

GIST

Liver Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

GI Oncology Now

Anemia

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Essential Thrombocythemia

Hemophilia

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polycythemia Vera

Pulmonary Embolism

Sickle Cell Disease

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombophilia

Thrombosis

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Venous Thromboembolism

von Willebrand Disease

Heme Today

Acute Kidney Injury

ADPKD

Anemia and Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Hypertension

End-Stage Renal Disease

Gout

Hyperkalemia

IgAN

Kidney Transplantation

Metabolic Acidosis

Nephrology Times

HER2 Breast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Genetics & Breast Cancer

Breast Cancers Today

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Interventional Cardiology

Lipid Management

Practice Tips With Dr. Lichaa

Preventive Cardiology

Stroke

Cardiology

Breast Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Skin Cancer

Oncology

Sleep

Urology

Diabetes

Ophthalmology

— Demodex Blepharitis

Neurology

Rheumatology

Gastroenterology

Pulmonology

Infectious Diseases

— HIV

Health and Wellness

Lupus

Future of Medicine

Orthopedics

Pharmacology

Career News

More

Conferences

CardioNerds

The Sleep Source With Dr. Morse

Rheumatology Rounds With Dr. Maheswaranathan

Partners

Expert Interviews

Subscribe