Golimumab improves patient-reported outcomes in daily practice of inflammatory rheumatic diseases in Germany

Abstract

Aim: To analyze the quality of life (QoL), work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients receiving golimumab under routine clinical settings in Germany. Materials & methods: Prospective observational study, GO-ART, analyzed changes in WPAI, QoL and HCRU during 24 months of golimumab therapy. Results: Seven hundred and forty-eight patients (RA = 250, PsA = 249 and AS = 249) were enrolled. Substantial improvements in WPAI scores presenteeism, activity impairment and total work productivity impairment and QoL were observed at month three and were maintained through month 24. Fewer patients had disease-related hospitalizations and consulted physician at month 24 than at the baseline. Conclusion: Golimumab induces sustained improvements in WPAI and QoL and reduces healthcare resource utilization in RA, PsA and AS.

A Prospective Study to Evaluate the Impact of Golimumab Therapy on Work Productivity and Activity, and Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis Arthritis and Axial Spondyloarthritis in a Real Life Setting in AUSTRIA. The GO-ACTIVE Study

“…Compared with previous real-world evidence on golimumab from the non- interventional GO-ART study in Germany, the present study demonstrated more pronounced improvements in TWPI and activity impairment in RA, axSpA and PsA patients ( 19 ). Our study also demonstrated higher improvements in QoL at month 3 and 24 than the GO-ART study ( 19 ). These differences may be the result of a higher proportion of biologic naive patients in this study compared to the GO-ART study (77.3 vs. 67.5%).…”

“…Although these data are in line with other reports indicating that 33.3 to 54.0% of RA patients in Germany are unemployed for any reason ( 18 , 19 ), such a high proportion of unemployed patients could limit the power to detect the impact of golimumab on absenteeism in our study.…”

“…The efficacy and safety of golimumab was demonstrated in several large scale randomized controlled clinical trials ( 13 – 15 ) and non-interventional studies ( 16 – 18 ). Furthermore, currently available real-world evidence showed that golimumab improves QoL and work productivity ( 17 , 19 ).…”

Health Resource Utilization and Associated Health Care Costs of Biologic Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in German Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis

“…Current evidence also supports prescribing bDMARDs or tsDMARDs as first‐line agents in treatment‐naive patients due to similar or greater treatment efficacy as well as cost savings (37–40). Additionally, bDMARDs and tsDMARDs have been reported to help patients regain normal physical function and improve work productivity (41–45), which could generate additional active and productive hours, resulting in a positive impact on the German economy, as shown by Himmler et al (46). However, as existing health care systems do not provide adequate cover for advanced medications in every instance, rheumatologists may not yet prefer them as first‐line therapy.…”