Pos0944 predictors of Sustained Remission in People With Axial Spondyloarthritis Treated With Biologic Drugs

Abstract

BackgroundThe ultimate goal of treatment in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is sustained remission. Data on predictors of sustained remission are scarce in axSpA.ObjectivesTo determine predictors of sustained remission in people with axSpA after treatment with their first biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD).MethodsHacettepe University Rheumatology Biologic Registry (HUR-BIO) is a prospective, single center registry of rheumatic disease patients treated with bDMARDs. Patients with axSpA were selected and sustained remission defined as attainment of Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society partial remission (ASAS-PR) and/or Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Disease Activity Score C-reactive protein Inactive Disease (ASDAS-ID) for two or more consecutive visits spanning ≥6 months during follow-up. Patients achieving and not achieving sustained remission were compared using the independent t-test. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent factors predictive of sustained remission. Variables with a p-value<0.1 were re-tested in multivariable models. Forward selection was performed until the best-fit model was obtained, taking possible confounders into account. Two separate multivariable models were built, one with and one without the covariate “achievement of remission at 3-6 months”, to assess consistency of findings and to account for missing information regarding remission status between 3 and 6 months.ResultsData on 990 patients with sustained remission data were available. Of these, 299 (30%) were in sustained remission, while 691 (70%) were not. Patients in sustained remission were younger, had earlier disease onset, were more frequently male, had lower BMI and were more frequently HLA-B27 positive, compared to patients not in sustained remission. Furthermore, at the start of bDMARD treatment, Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), and patient global assessment (PGA, 0-10 scale) were lower, while acute phase reactants (ESR and CRP) were higher, in the sustained remission group. In multivariable analysis, male gender (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.21-3.95), concomitant conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) use (OR 3.63, 95% CI 1.29-10.19), PGA (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.98), and early achievement (between 3-6 months) of remission (OR 13.1, 95% CI 7.13-24.02) were independently associated with sustained remission (Table 1, model 1). In the model without the variable early achievement of remission (Table 1, model 2), similar and a few additional associations were described: age at diagnosis (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.99), male gender (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.60-3.35), concomitant csDMARD use (OR 1.88 95% CI 1.23-2.86), PGA (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99), BASDAI (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.96), and baseline symptom duration (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-0.99).Table 1.Multivariable analysis (best-fit model) of predictors of sustained remissionModel 1Model 2CovariatesMultivariable Analysis (n= 541)Multivariable Analysis (n=739)OR (95% CI)p-valueOR (95% CI)p-valueAge at diagnosisNSNS0.97 (0.96-0.99)0.006Male sex2.84 (1.71-4.70)<0.0012.31 (1.60-3.35)<0.001Concomitant csDMARD use (at baseline or follow-up)2.94 (1.57-5.51)0.0011.88 (1.23-2.86)0.003Baseline PGA0.97 (0.96-0.98)<0.0010.98 (0.97-0.99)0.002Baseline BASDAINSNS0.87 (0.78-0.96)0.009Baseline symptom durationNSNS0.97 (0.94-0.99)0.021Achievement of remission at 3-6 months after baseline11.70 (7.11-19.23)<0.001NANANA: not applicable; NS: not selected (not contributing to the model). Baseline refers to start of bDMARD treatment.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that patients in sustained remission after starting bDMARD treatment have distinctive characteristics compared to patients not in sustained remission. These data can be used to aid clinical and personalized management of axSpA, and to facilitate better communicate between health care professionals and patients regarding the course and prognosis of their condition.Disclosure of InterestsBayram Farisogullari: None declared, Gözde Kübra Yardimci: None declared, Emre Bilgin: None declared, Ertugrul Cagri Bolek: None declared, Emine Duran: None declared, Gizem Ayan: None declared, Zehra Özsoy: None declared, Gullu Sandal Uzun: None declared, Mustafa Ekici: None declared, Erdinc Unaldi: None declared, Levent Kiliç: None declared, Ali Akdoğan: None declared, Omer Karadag: None declared, Şule Apraş Bilgen: None declared, Sedat Kiraz: None declared, Ali İhsan Ertenli: None declared, Umut Kalyoncu: None declared, Pedro M Machado Speakers bureau: Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Orphazyme, Pfizer, Roche and UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Orphazyme, Pfizer, Roche and UCB