Objective. In early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), treating to a target is more effective than routine care (RC). Our aim was to determine if treating to a target has better outcomes than RC in established active RA. Methods. We used a real-world, 18-month cluster-randomized trial in established active RA patients treated with adalimumab. Physicians were randomized to RC, treating to a Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) of <2.6 (DAS group), or treating to a 0 of 28 swollen joint count (SJC; 0-SJC group). Results. Among the 308 enrolled patients, 109 (35.4%) were randomized to RC, 100 (32.5%) to the DAS group, and 99 (32.1%) to the 0-SJC group. When adjusting for baseline DAS28, a comparable but significant (P < 0.001) improvement in DAS28 was observed at 12 months for all groups (DAS28 mean score 3.1, 3.4, and 3.2, respectively). There were no significant between-group differences in the improvement of clinical parameters and patient-reported outcomes with the exception of the mean change in patient satisfaction over time (P ‫؍‬ 0.020), which was highest in the DAS group. Time to achieving good/moderate European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response was significantly shorter in the targeted treatment groups compared to RC (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] for the DAS-group 2.99 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.71-5.24] and HR for the 0-SJC group 1.86 [95% CI 1.09 -3.13]). The dropout rate was 52.3% in RC, 27% in the DAS group, and 22.2% in the 0-SJC group (P < 0.001). Conclusion. All groups experienced significant improvements at 18 months of treatment with adalimumab. Treating to target in established RA did not differ from RC in terms of therapeutic end point achievement for patients remaining on treatment. However, time to achieving good/moderate EULAR response was significantly shorter in the targeted treatment groups compared to RC and, importantly, the dropout rate was significantly lower with targeted treatment.

Elderly patients sustaining fall-related injuries and treated at Level I trauma centers are at risk for excess mortality when compared with those injured in MVCs. Effective and efficient methods for treating this population must be determined.

Severe morbidity and significant HCRU are associated with HZ in Taiwan, supporting the need for early intervention and preventive strategies to reduce the HZ-associated burden of illness.

Montelukast add-on therapy is effective for managing asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms in patients who were previously uncontrolled with ICS or ICS/LABA treatment.

ObjectiveTo describe the minimal disease activity (MDA) rate over time in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) receiving antitumour necrosis factor agents, evaluate prognostic factors of MDA achievement and identify the most common unmet criteria among MDA achievers.DesignBiologic Treatment Registry Across Canada (BioTRAC): ongoing, prospective registry of patients initiating treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or PsA with infliximab (IFX), golimumab (GLM) or ustekinumab.Setting46 primary-care Canadian rheumatology practices.Participants223 patients with PsA receiving IFX (enrolled since 2005) and GLM (enrolled since 2010) with available MDA information at baseline, 6 months and/or 12 months.Primary and secondary outcome measuresMDA was defined as ≥5 of the following criteria: 28-item tender joint count (TJC28) ≤1, 28-item swollen joint count (SJC28) ≤1, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) ≤1 or body surface area≤3, Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ≤15 mm, patient’s global assessment (PtGA) (VAS) ≤20 mm, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) ≤0.5, tender entheseal points ≤1. Independent prognostic factors of MDA achievement were assessed with multivariate logistic regression.ResultsMDA was achieved by 11.7% of patients at baseline, 43.5% at 6 months, 44.8% at 12 months and 48.8% at either 6 or 12 months. Among MDA achievers at 6 months, 75.7% had sustained MDA at 12 months. Lower baseline HAQ (OR=0.210; 95% CI: 0.099 to 0.447) and lower TJC28 (OR=0.880; 95% CI: 0.804 to 0.964), were significant prognostic factors of MDA achievement over 12 months of treatment. The most commonly unmet MDA criteria among MDA achievers was patient reported pain (25%), PtGA (15%) and PASI (12%).ConclusionsAlmost 50% of patients treated with IFX or GLM in routine clinical care achieved MDA within the first year of treatment. Lower baseline HAQ and lower TJC28, were identified as significant prognostic factors of MDA achievement. The most commonly unmet criteria in patients who achieved MDA were pain, PtGA and PASI.Trial registration numberBioTRAC (NCT00741793).