Article

Key clinical point: Rimegepant on a patient treated as needed (PRN) basis reduces monthly migraine days (MMD) without increasing the monthly tablet use and improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with acute migraine.

Major finding: Rimegepant reduced the mean MMD from 10.9 days at baseline to 8.9 days by week 52 and led to an increase of 0.08 quality-adjusted life years. The mean monthly tablet use decreased from 7.9 tablets to 7.3 tablets between weeks 4-8 and 48-52.

Study details: This was a post hoc analysis of the phase 2/3 safety BHV3000-201 study including 1,044 patients with a ≥1-year history of migraine and ≥6 MMD who received 75 mg rimegepant up to once daily PRN for up to 52 weeks.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. CP Schreiber reported being a speaker for various organizations, including Biohaven. The rest of the authors are employees and stock/stock option owners of Biohaven or Broadstreet HEOR (funded by the former).

Source: Johnston K et al. J Headache Pain. 2022;23:10 (Jan 17). Doi: 10.1186/s10194-021-01378-5

Key clinical point: Rimegepant on a patient treated as needed (PRN) basis reduces monthly migraine days (MMD) without increasing the monthly tablet use and improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with acute migraine.

Major finding: Rimegepant reduced the mean MMD from 10.9 days at baseline to 8.9 days by week 52 and led to an increase of 0.08 quality-adjusted life years. The mean monthly tablet use decreased from 7.9 tablets to 7.3 tablets between weeks 4-8 and 48-52.

Study details: This was a post hoc analysis of the phase 2/3 safety BHV3000-201 study including 1,044 patients with a ≥1-year history of migraine and ≥6 MMD who received 75 mg rimegepant up to once daily PRN for up to 52 weeks.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. CP Schreiber reported being a speaker for various organizations, including Biohaven. The rest of the authors are employees and stock/stock option owners of Biohaven or Broadstreet HEOR (funded by the former).

Source: Johnston K et al. J Headache Pain. 2022;23:10 (Jan 17). Doi: 10.1186/s10194-021-01378-5

Key clinical point: Rimegepant on a patient treated as needed (PRN) basis reduces monthly migraine days (MMD) without increasing the monthly tablet use and improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with acute migraine.

Major finding: Rimegepant reduced the mean MMD from 10.9 days at baseline to 8.9 days by week 52 and led to an increase of 0.08 quality-adjusted life years. The mean monthly tablet use decreased from 7.9 tablets to 7.3 tablets between weeks 4-8 and 48-52.

Study details: This was a post hoc analysis of the phase 2/3 safety BHV3000-201 study including 1,044 patients with a ≥1-year history of migraine and ≥6 MMD who received 75 mg rimegepant up to once daily PRN for up to 52 weeks.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. CP Schreiber reported being a speaker for various organizations, including Biohaven. The rest of the authors are employees and stock/stock option owners of Biohaven or Broadstreet HEOR (funded by the former).

Source: Johnston K et al. J Headache Pain. 2022;23:10 (Jan 17). Doi: 10.1186/s10194-021-01378-5

Key clinical point: Galcanezumab improves functioning and decreases disability in patients with treatment-resistant migraine.

Main finding: At month 3, galcanezumab vs. placebo caused a greater improvement in the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (version 2.1 Role Function-Restrictive) (least-squares mean [LSM] change 23.19 vs. 10.66; P ≤ .0001] and European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions-5 Level Visual Analog Scale (LSM change 3.38 vs. −0.086; P = .0277) scores and a greater reduction in Migraine Disability Assessment total scores (LSM chang, −21.10 vs. −3.30; P ≤ .0001).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3b CONQUER trial including 462 adult patients with episodic or chronic migraine and no response to previous 2-4 migraine preventive treatment categories who were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with galcanezumab (n = 232) or placebo (n = 230) for 3 months followed by 3-month open-label treatment with galcanezumab.

Disclosures: Eli Lilly and Company sponsored the study. SJ Tepper and J Ailani declared receiving research grants, speaker's/advisory board member's honoraria, or institutional research funding for clinical trials from various sources, including Eli Lilly. The rest of the authors are employees and stockholders of Eli Lilly.

Source: Tepper SJ et al. Clin Drug Investig. 2022 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1007/s40261-021-01115-5

Key clinical point: Galcanezumab improves functioning and decreases disability in patients with treatment-resistant migraine.

Main finding: At month 3, galcanezumab vs. placebo caused a greater improvement in the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (version 2.1 Role Function-Restrictive) (least-squares mean [LSM] change 23.19 vs. 10.66; P ≤ .0001] and European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions-5 Level Visual Analog Scale (LSM change 3.38 vs. −0.086; P = .0277) scores and a greater reduction in Migraine Disability Assessment total scores (LSM chang, −21.10 vs. −3.30; P ≤ .0001).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3b CONQUER trial including 462 adult patients with episodic or chronic migraine and no response to previous 2-4 migraine preventive treatment categories who were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with galcanezumab (n = 232) or placebo (n = 230) for 3 months followed by 3-month open-label treatment with galcanezumab.

Disclosures: Eli Lilly and Company sponsored the study. SJ Tepper and J Ailani declared receiving research grants, speaker's/advisory board member's honoraria, or institutional research funding for clinical trials from various sources, including Eli Lilly. The rest of the authors are employees and stockholders of Eli Lilly.

Source: Tepper SJ et al. Clin Drug Investig. 2022 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1007/s40261-021-01115-5

Key clinical point: Galcanezumab improves functioning and decreases disability in patients with treatment-resistant migraine.

Main finding: At month 3, galcanezumab vs. placebo caused a greater improvement in the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (version 2.1 Role Function-Restrictive) (least-squares mean [LSM] change 23.19 vs. 10.66; P ≤ .0001] and European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions-5 Level Visual Analog Scale (LSM change 3.38 vs. −0.086; P = .0277) scores and a greater reduction in Migraine Disability Assessment total scores (LSM chang, −21.10 vs. −3.30; P ≤ .0001).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3b CONQUER trial including 462 adult patients with episodic or chronic migraine and no response to previous 2-4 migraine preventive treatment categories who were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with galcanezumab (n = 232) or placebo (n = 230) for 3 months followed by 3-month open-label treatment with galcanezumab.

Disclosures: Eli Lilly and Company sponsored the study. SJ Tepper and J Ailani declared receiving research grants, speaker's/advisory board member's honoraria, or institutional research funding for clinical trials from various sources, including Eli Lilly. The rest of the authors are employees and stockholders of Eli Lilly.

Source: Tepper SJ et al. Clin Drug Investig. 2022 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1007/s40261-021-01115-5

Key clinical point: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), baricitinib showed better treatment responses than tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, whereas treatment response for tofacitinib was not significantly different vs. baricitinib or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD).

Major finding: At 1 year, TNFi vs. baricitinib showed lower European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (difference −4.3%; 95% CI −8.7% to 0.1%), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index improvement (difference −9.9%; 95% CI −14.4% to −5.4%), and Clinical Disease Activity Index remission (difference −6%; 95% CI −9.8% to −2.2%). Tofacitinib showed similar treatment responses vs. bDMARDs or baricitinib.

Study details: This was a nationwide cohort study involving patients with RA who initiated baricitinib (n = 1,420), tofacitinib (n = 316), abatacept (n = 1,050), interleukin-6 inhibitors (n = 849), rituximab (n = 1,101), or TNF inhibitors (n = 6,036).

Disclosures: This work was supported by the Swedish Research Council and others. J Askling, K Chatzidionysiou, and C Turesson reported receiving research grants and consulting and speaker fees from various sources. A Kastbom reported being employed by Sanofi.

Source: Barbulescu A et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Feb 3). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac068

Key clinical point: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), baricitinib showed better treatment responses than tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, whereas treatment response for tofacitinib was not significantly different vs. baricitinib or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD).

Major finding: At 1 year, TNFi vs. baricitinib showed lower European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (difference −4.3%; 95% CI −8.7% to 0.1%), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index improvement (difference −9.9%; 95% CI −14.4% to −5.4%), and Clinical Disease Activity Index remission (difference −6%; 95% CI −9.8% to −2.2%). Tofacitinib showed similar treatment responses vs. bDMARDs or baricitinib.

Study details: This was a nationwide cohort study involving patients with RA who initiated baricitinib (n = 1,420), tofacitinib (n = 316), abatacept (n = 1,050), interleukin-6 inhibitors (n = 849), rituximab (n = 1,101), or TNF inhibitors (n = 6,036).

Disclosures: This work was supported by the Swedish Research Council and others. J Askling, K Chatzidionysiou, and C Turesson reported receiving research grants and consulting and speaker fees from various sources. A Kastbom reported being employed by Sanofi.

Source: Barbulescu A et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Feb 3). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac068

Key clinical point: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), baricitinib showed better treatment responses than tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, whereas treatment response for tofacitinib was not significantly different vs. baricitinib or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD).

Major finding: At 1 year, TNFi vs. baricitinib showed lower European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (difference −4.3%; 95% CI −8.7% to 0.1%), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index improvement (difference −9.9%; 95% CI −14.4% to −5.4%), and Clinical Disease Activity Index remission (difference −6%; 95% CI −9.8% to −2.2%). Tofacitinib showed similar treatment responses vs. bDMARDs or baricitinib.

Study details: This was a nationwide cohort study involving patients with RA who initiated baricitinib (n = 1,420), tofacitinib (n = 316), abatacept (n = 1,050), interleukin-6 inhibitors (n = 849), rituximab (n = 1,101), or TNF inhibitors (n = 6,036).

Disclosures: This work was supported by the Swedish Research Council and others. J Askling, K Chatzidionysiou, and C Turesson reported receiving research grants and consulting and speaker fees from various sources. A Kastbom reported being employed by Sanofi.

Source: Barbulescu A et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Feb 3). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac068

Key clinical point: Vitamin D concentration at birth was not associated with the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in early adulthood.

Major finding: The risk of developing RA in individuals aged 18-33.9 years was not significantly different among those in the highest vs. lowest vitamin D quintile (adjusted hazard ratio 1.21; 95% CI 0.90-1.63).

Study details: This was a registry-based case-cohort study involving 805 patients with RA with onset in early adulthood and 2,416 individuals from a random subcohort.

Disclosures: This research was supported by the Danish Rheumatism Association and others. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Cardoso I et al. Nutrients. 2022;14(3):447 (Jan 20). Doi: 10.3390/nu14030447

Key clinical point: Vitamin D concentration at birth was not associated with the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in early adulthood.

Major finding: The risk of developing RA in individuals aged 18-33.9 years was not significantly different among those in the highest vs. lowest vitamin D quintile (adjusted hazard ratio 1.21; 95% CI 0.90-1.63).

Study details: This was a registry-based case-cohort study involving 805 patients with RA with onset in early adulthood and 2,416 individuals from a random subcohort.

Disclosures: This research was supported by the Danish Rheumatism Association and others. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Cardoso I et al. Nutrients. 2022;14(3):447 (Jan 20). Doi: 10.3390/nu14030447

Key clinical point: Vitamin D concentration at birth was not associated with the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in early adulthood.

Major finding: The risk of developing RA in individuals aged 18-33.9 years was not significantly different among those in the highest vs. lowest vitamin D quintile (adjusted hazard ratio 1.21; 95% CI 0.90-1.63).

Study details: This was a registry-based case-cohort study involving 805 patients with RA with onset in early adulthood and 2,416 individuals from a random subcohort.

Disclosures: This research was supported by the Danish Rheumatism Association and others. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Cardoso I et al. Nutrients. 2022;14(3):447 (Jan 20). Doi: 10.3390/nu14030447

Key clinical point: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), low cumulative disease activity was associated with an increased femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), irrespective of established osteoporosis risk factors.

Major finding: Low cumulative disease activity as measured by Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints with erythrocyte sedimentation rate was independently associated with higher femoral neck BMD compared with moderate/high disease activity (β 0.071; P = .020).

Study details: The findings come from an observational cohort study involving 161 patients with RA.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the Rheumatology Research Foundation Scientist Development Award, National Institute of Aging, and others. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wysham KD et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022;53:151972 (Jan 31). Doi:  10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.151972

Key clinical point: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), low cumulative disease activity was associated with an increased femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), irrespective of established osteoporosis risk factors.

Major finding: Low cumulative disease activity as measured by Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints with erythrocyte sedimentation rate was independently associated with higher femoral neck BMD compared with moderate/high disease activity (β 0.071; P = .020).

Study details: The findings come from an observational cohort study involving 161 patients with RA.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the Rheumatology Research Foundation Scientist Development Award, National Institute of Aging, and others. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wysham KD et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022;53:151972 (Jan 31). Doi:  10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.151972

Key clinical point: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), low cumulative disease activity was associated with an increased femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), irrespective of established osteoporosis risk factors.

Major finding: Low cumulative disease activity as measured by Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints with erythrocyte sedimentation rate was independently associated with higher femoral neck BMD compared with moderate/high disease activity (β 0.071; P = .020).

Study details: The findings come from an observational cohort study involving 161 patients with RA.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the Rheumatology Research Foundation Scientist Development Award, National Institute of Aging, and others. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wysham KD et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022;53:151972 (Jan 31). Doi:  10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.151972

Key clinical point: The use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) or corticosteroids did not affect the risk for Parkinson's disease (PD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), except for chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, which may be potentially associated with a reduced PD risk.

Major finding: At 3 years, the use of DMARDs or corticosteroids was not associated with the risk for PD, except for chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, which was associated with a decreased risk  (adjusted odds ratio 0.74; 95% CI 0.56-0.97).

Study details: The findings come from the nested nationwide, case-control study including 315 cases with RA diagnosed at least 3 years before the diagnosis of PD. Cases were matched to 1,571 control participants without PD but with RA.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Paakinaho A et al. Neurology. 2022 (Jan 21). Doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000013303

Key clinical point: The use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) or corticosteroids did not affect the risk for Parkinson's disease (PD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), except for chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, which may be potentially associated with a reduced PD risk.

Major finding: At 3 years, the use of DMARDs or corticosteroids was not associated with the risk for PD, except for chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, which was associated with a decreased risk  (adjusted odds ratio 0.74; 95% CI 0.56-0.97).

Study details: The findings come from the nested nationwide, case-control study including 315 cases with RA diagnosed at least 3 years before the diagnosis of PD. Cases were matched to 1,571 control participants without PD but with RA.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Paakinaho A et al. Neurology. 2022 (Jan 21). Doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000013303

Key clinical point: The use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) or corticosteroids did not affect the risk for Parkinson's disease (PD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), except for chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, which may be potentially associated with a reduced PD risk.

Major finding: At 3 years, the use of DMARDs or corticosteroids was not associated with the risk for PD, except for chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, which was associated with a decreased risk  (adjusted odds ratio 0.74; 95% CI 0.56-0.97).

Study details: The findings come from the nested nationwide, case-control study including 315 cases with RA diagnosed at least 3 years before the diagnosis of PD. Cases were matched to 1,571 control participants without PD but with RA.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Paakinaho A et al. Neurology. 2022 (Jan 21). Doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000013303

Key clinical point: A healthy lifestyle was associated with a reduced risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) overall, as well as for seropositive and seronegative RA.

Major finding: Each unit increase in healthy lifestyle index score was associated with a reduced risk for overall RA (hazard ratio [HR] 0.86; P < .0001), seropositive RA (HR 0.85; P < .0001), and seronegative RA (HR 0.87; P < .001).

Study details: The findings come from an analysis of 2 large prospective cohorts including 107,092 women, among which 1,219 cases of incident RA (seropositive, 776; seronegative, 443) were identified.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and Rheumatology Research Foundation Career Development Bridge Award. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Hahn J et al. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2022 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1002/acr.24862

Key clinical point: A healthy lifestyle was associated with a reduced risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) overall, as well as for seropositive and seronegative RA.

Major finding: Each unit increase in healthy lifestyle index score was associated with a reduced risk for overall RA (hazard ratio [HR] 0.86; P < .0001), seropositive RA (HR 0.85; P < .0001), and seronegative RA (HR 0.87; P < .001).

Study details: The findings come from an analysis of 2 large prospective cohorts including 107,092 women, among which 1,219 cases of incident RA (seropositive, 776; seronegative, 443) were identified.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and Rheumatology Research Foundation Career Development Bridge Award. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Hahn J et al. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2022 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1002/acr.24862

Key clinical point: A healthy lifestyle was associated with a reduced risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) overall, as well as for seropositive and seronegative RA.

Major finding: Each unit increase in healthy lifestyle index score was associated with a reduced risk for overall RA (hazard ratio [HR] 0.86; P < .0001), seropositive RA (HR 0.85; P < .0001), and seronegative RA (HR 0.87; P < .001).

Study details: The findings come from an analysis of 2 large prospective cohorts including 107,092 women, among which 1,219 cases of incident RA (seropositive, 776; seronegative, 443) were identified.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and Rheumatology Research Foundation Career Development Bridge Award. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Hahn J et al. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2022 (Jan 18). Doi: 10.1002/acr.24862

Key clinical point: Adverse events (AE), most being nonserious, are common within the first year of treatment with methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with gastrointestinal AEs being most common and women more likely to report AEs compared with men.

Major finding: At least 1 AE within the first year of methotrexate initiation was reported by 77.5% of patients, with gastrointestinal AEs being the most common (42%) and nausea being the most reported single event (31.2%). Women vs. men were more likely to report gastrointestinal AEs (odds ratio 2.03; 95% CI 1.49-2.75).

Study details: The findings come from a prospective cohort of 1,069 patients with RA who initiated methotrexate therapy.

Disclosures: This work was supported by the Versus Arthritis and NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. All the authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Sherbini AA et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Jan 25). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab917

Key clinical point: Adverse events (AE), most being nonserious, are common within the first year of treatment with methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with gastrointestinal AEs being most common and women more likely to report AEs compared with men.

Major finding: At least 1 AE within the first year of methotrexate initiation was reported by 77.5% of patients, with gastrointestinal AEs being the most common (42%) and nausea being the most reported single event (31.2%). Women vs. men were more likely to report gastrointestinal AEs (odds ratio 2.03; 95% CI 1.49-2.75).

Study details: The findings come from a prospective cohort of 1,069 patients with RA who initiated methotrexate therapy.

Disclosures: This work was supported by the Versus Arthritis and NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. All the authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Sherbini AA et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Jan 25). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab917

Key clinical point: Adverse events (AE), most being nonserious, are common within the first year of treatment with methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with gastrointestinal AEs being most common and women more likely to report AEs compared with men.

Major finding: At least 1 AE within the first year of methotrexate initiation was reported by 77.5% of patients, with gastrointestinal AEs being the most common (42%) and nausea being the most reported single event (31.2%). Women vs. men were more likely to report gastrointestinal AEs (odds ratio 2.03; 95% CI 1.49-2.75).

Study details: The findings come from a prospective cohort of 1,069 patients with RA who initiated methotrexate therapy.

Disclosures: This work was supported by the Versus Arthritis and NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. All the authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Sherbini AA et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Jan 25). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab917

Key clinical point: Under real-world settings, tofacitinib was not associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular (CV) outcomes compared with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, the risk could not be ruled out in patients with prior CV disease.

Major finding: Tofacitinib vs. TNFi was not linked with a higher risk for composite CV outcome (pooled weighted hazard ratio [pwHR] 1.01; 95% CI 0.83-1.23); however, the pwHR for patients with and without prior CV disease was 1.27 (95% CI, 0.95-1.70) and 0.81 (95% CI 0.61-1.07), respectively.

Study details: STAR-RA is a multidatabase, population-based study including 1,02,263 patients with RA who initiated treatment with tofacitinib or TNFi.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. RJ Desai and SC Kim reported receiving research grants from various sources. All the other authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Khosrow-Khavar F et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 (Jan 13). Doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221915

Key clinical point: Under real-world settings, tofacitinib was not associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular (CV) outcomes compared with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, the risk could not be ruled out in patients with prior CV disease.

Major finding: Tofacitinib vs. TNFi was not linked with a higher risk for composite CV outcome (pooled weighted hazard ratio [pwHR] 1.01; 95% CI 0.83-1.23); however, the pwHR for patients with and without prior CV disease was 1.27 (95% CI, 0.95-1.70) and 0.81 (95% CI 0.61-1.07), respectively.

Study details: STAR-RA is a multidatabase, population-based study including 1,02,263 patients with RA who initiated treatment with tofacitinib or TNFi.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. RJ Desai and SC Kim reported receiving research grants from various sources. All the other authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Khosrow-Khavar F et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 (Jan 13). Doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221915

Key clinical point: Under real-world settings, tofacitinib was not associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular (CV) outcomes compared with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, the risk could not be ruled out in patients with prior CV disease.

Major finding: Tofacitinib vs. TNFi was not linked with a higher risk for composite CV outcome (pooled weighted hazard ratio [pwHR] 1.01; 95% CI 0.83-1.23); however, the pwHR for patients with and without prior CV disease was 1.27 (95% CI, 0.95-1.70) and 0.81 (95% CI 0.61-1.07), respectively.

Study details: STAR-RA is a multidatabase, population-based study including 1,02,263 patients with RA who initiated treatment with tofacitinib or TNFi.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. RJ Desai and SC Kim reported receiving research grants from various sources. All the other authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Khosrow-Khavar F et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 (Jan 13). Doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221915

Key clinical point: Almost one-third of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) experience acute exacerbation (AE), which significantly affects overall survival.

Major finding: Overall, AE was experienced by 28.1% of patients with RA-ILD, with the 5-year cumulative incidence being 29.4%. The occurrence of AE was significantly associated with a higher risk for mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 2.423; P < .001).

Study details: The findings come from a retrospective analysis involving 310 patients with RA-ILD.

Disclosures: This study was supported by a grant from the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology. All the authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Kwon BS et al. Chest. 2022 (Jan 11). Doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.01.007

Key clinical point: Almost one-third of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) experience acute exacerbation (AE), which significantly affects overall survival.

Major finding: Overall, AE was experienced by 28.1% of patients with RA-ILD, with the 5-year cumulative incidence being 29.4%. The occurrence of AE was significantly associated with a higher risk for mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 2.423; P < .001).

Study details: The findings come from a retrospective analysis involving 310 patients with RA-ILD.

Disclosures: This study was supported by a grant from the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology. All the authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Kwon BS et al. Chest. 2022 (Jan 11). Doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.01.007

Key clinical point: Almost one-third of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) experience acute exacerbation (AE), which significantly affects overall survival.

Major finding: Overall, AE was experienced by 28.1% of patients with RA-ILD, with the 5-year cumulative incidence being 29.4%. The occurrence of AE was significantly associated with a higher risk for mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 2.423; P < .001).

Study details: The findings come from a retrospective analysis involving 310 patients with RA-ILD.

Disclosures: This study was supported by a grant from the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology. All the authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Kwon BS et al. Chest. 2022 (Jan 11). Doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.01.007