Lana Pine

The January 2023 rheumatology month in review highlights a recent study that indicated an increased risk of hospitalization and death among patients with gout and COVID-19, the expansion of research evaluating adalimumab biosimilars, and trends in fibromyalgia.

The approval of the adalimumab biosimilar, adalimumab-aacf, signals the beginning of Fresenius Kabi's long-term dedication to biosimilars.

A total of 608 patients from an early RA cohort that had baseline radiographs of hands and feet, as well as at 1, 2, 5, and 8 years, were included in the long-term study.

"Changes in the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) seem to be associated with changes in objectively assessed strength and physical function, suggesting HAQ captures the patient impact of sarcopenia-related disability,” investigators noted.

Real-world evidence indicates that patients with psoriasis can safely and effectively undergo (non-medical) switching to a biosimilar.

The syndrome, although rare, has a high mortality rate, with approximately half of patients dying within 5 years of diagnosis.

“Disease-related malnutrition is strongly associated with morbidity, disability, short- and long-term mortality, and impaired disease recovery," investigators explained.

Shifts towards on-patient and higher-cost therapies have been observed in TNF-alpha inhibitor biosimilar availability. Therefore, the importance of investing in biosimilars is encouraged.

The multicenter superiority trial evaluated patients with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis and a history of pain and decreased knee function using patient-tailored exercise programs.

The safety and efficacy of 4 adalimumab biosimilars was compared in a real-life setting in adult patients with IBD switching from the originator for a non-medical reason.

The findings visualized the increased amount of research regarding acupuncture for fibromyalgia treatment, which may eventually boost efficacy, reduce cost, and promte future development in the field.

The 2-phase study analyzed the association of plasma vitamin D levels with clinical phenotype, serology, and disease variables in a large cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus living in India.

“Despite the multiple benefits offered by physical activity (PA), the proportion of older adults meeting PA guidelines is between 27% to 44%," investigators explained.

Improved patient-reported outcomes were observed in patients who used mind-body interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and yoga, and were effective for managing IBS and fibromyalgia.

Intervention strategies that focus on the reduction of catastrophic thinking in addition to physical exercise may be beneficial for patients with fibromyalgia.

Studying quality care markers can help clinicians understand treatment variations and non-adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, which may improve outcomes and decrease financial burdens.

Understanding the risk factors, such as a gout diagnosis and long-term glucocorticoid use, can help inform patients and clinicians regarding the continued management of patients with rheumatic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The etanercept biosimilar, YLB113 (Nepexto), maintained a favorable efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity profile through week 96.

Serum urate rapidly declined after initiation of pegloticase and methotrexate therapy and was maintained well below ≥ 6 mg/dL, an indicator of uncontrolled gout, throughout the study.

In the post-hoc analysis, an association between cumulative local joint swelling and progression of radiographic damage in the same joint was observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Despite EULAR recommendations encouraging the tapering of glucocorticoids and the rapidly expanding treatment options for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, glucocorticoids are still commonly prescribed to reduce inflammation and manage disease activity.

“The fact that patients report substituting cannabis for pain medications so much underscores the need for research on the benefits and risk of using cannabis for chronic pain,” investigators stated.

Findings support the concept of early urate-lowering therapy in patients experiencing gout flare under adequate prophylactic treatment.

Disease-dependent factors, such as a history of adverse reactions to bio-originators and disease activity, influenced patients' acceptance of switching from a biologic to a biosimilar.

The cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between the mediating variable, distress, and pain and functionality in patients with fibromyalgia after controlling for age, gender, and income.

“Although the evolution of COVID-19 is favorable worldwide, multiple variables related to psychological health and the response to stressors seem to have triggered symptomatologic responses in fibromyalgia patients,” investigators stated.

Patients with psoriatic arthritis who achieve minimal disease activity during the first year of diagnosis are shown to experience better health-related quality of life, improved mental wellbeing, and reduced fatigue.

Results of the study, which focused on patient-reported outcomes in addition to clinical measurements, mirror findings from other large-scale studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of biosimilars in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Although high intensity resistance training did not improve mood in women with fibromyalgia, anger decreased during the 8-week, supervised intervention program.

Although the incidence rates were similar among those treated with TNFi and biologics-naïve patients, patients with psoriatic arthritis had a 35% increased risk when compared with the general population.