Differences in patients' population and efficacy/effectiveness of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs between randomized controlled trials and real-world settings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis - using the IORRA cohort

Eri Sugano; Eiichi Tanaka; Eisuke Inoue; Ryoko Sakai; Mai Abe; Kumiko Saka; Naohiro Sugitani; Moeko Ochiai; Rei Yamaguchi; Yoko Higuchi; Naoki Sugimoto; Katsunori Ikari; Ayako Nakajima; Hisashi Yamanaka; Masayoshi Harigai

doi:10.1093/mr/roab067

Differences in patients' population and efficacy/effectiveness of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs between randomized controlled trials and real-world settings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis - using the IORRA cohort

Mod Rheumatol. 2022 Jul 1;32(4):675-685. doi: 10.1093/mr/roab067.

Authors

Eri Sugano^{1

2}, Eiichi Tanaka^{1

2}, Eisuke Inoue^{1

3}, Ryoko Sakai^{1

4}, Mai Abe^{1

2}, Kumiko Saka^{1

2}, Naohiro Sugitani^{1

2}, Moeko Ochiai^{1

2}, Rei Yamaguchi^{1

2}, Yoko Higuchi^{1

2}, Naoki Sugimoto^{1

2}, Katsunori Ikari^{4

5}, Ayako Nakajima^{1

6}, Hisashi Yamanaka^{1

7

8}, Masayoshi Harigai^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
² Department of Rheumatology, Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Research Administration Center, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Division of Multidisciplinary Management of Rheumatic Diseases, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
⁵ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
⁶ Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Mie University Hospital, Mie, Japan.
⁷ Department of Rheumatology, Sanno Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
⁸ Department of Rheumatology, International University of Health and Welfare, Chiba, Japan.

PMID: 34918127
DOI: 10.1093/mr/roab067

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the differences in patients' population and efficacy/effectiveness of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) between randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical practice in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: We reviewed inclusion criteria in Phase II or III RCTs of bDMARDs conducted in Japan. The Institute of Rheumatology, Rheumatoid Arthritis study participants during the period when each RCT was conducted (Cohort A) and new bDMARD users at our institute in 2016 (Cohort B) were assessed for the fulfilment of the inclusion criteria. The effectiveness of bDMARDs in our cohort and their efficacy in RCTs were compared using the inverse-variance method.

Results: Nineteen RCTs were selected. The mean proportions of patients fulfilling all inclusion criteria of each RCT in Cohorts A and B were 2.3% and 7.6%, respectively. The pooled proportion ratios (95% confidence interval) for achieving the American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20), ACR50, ACR70, and disease activity score 28 remission in non-eligible cases for eight RCTs versus all corresponding RCTs were 0.38 (0.30-0.51), 0.41 (0.30-0.57), 0.54 (0.35-0.82), and 1.28 (1.10-1.56), respectively.

Conclusions: Few rheumatoid arthritis patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the RCTs in clinical settings. There was a difference in the efficacy/effectiveness of bDMARDs between RCTs and clinical practice.

Keywords: Biological disease–modifying antirheumatic drugs; randomized controlled trials; real-world; rheumatoid arthritis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antirheumatic Agents* / therapeutic use
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / drug therapy
Biological Products* / therapeutic use
Cohort Studies
Humans
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Substances

Antirheumatic Agents
Biological Products

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding