RESEARCH - Humira plus MTX improved SF-36 scores and reduced the effect of RA on work activity for patients with early RA

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J Rheumatol. 2008 Feb;35(2):206-15. Epub 2007 Dec 15.

Adalimumab plus Methotrexate Improved SF-36 Scores and Reduced the

Effect of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) on Work Activity for Patients with

Early RA.

Kimel M, Cifaldi M, Chen N, Revicki D.

From the Center for Health Outcomes Research, United BioSource

Corporation, Bethesda, land; and Global Health Economics and

Outcomes Research, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of adalimumab plus methotrexate (MTX)

versus MTX monotherapy on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and

work activities in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS: Patients in this PREMIER study subanalysis (n = 525) were

randomized to adalimumab 40 mg every other week plus MTX or MTX

monotherapy. Medical Outcome Study Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36)

scores of RA patients were compared with US population norms at Weeks

12, 52, and 104. RESULTS: Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores at

Week 12 for both groups improved from baseline and were significantly

lower than US population scores (43.5 combination, 39.4 MTX, 49.4 US

norm; p< 0.001). At Week 52, PCS score for adalimumab plus MTX was

similar to that of the US population (47.5 vs 48.3; p = 0.25), while

the PCS score for MTX was not similar to that of the US population

(44.2 vs 48.3; p < 0.001). Criterion- and content-based

interpretations for between-treatment differences in PCS scores

suggest that those receiving combination therapy had fewer employment

difficulties than those receiving MTX.

CONCLUSION:After 2 years, HRQOL for patients with early RA treated

with adalimumab plus MTX improved to US norms. Combination therapy had

reduced the influence of RA on work activity.

PMID: 18085743

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18085743

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