Impact of non-serious infections on medication interruptions, quality of life, and disease flares in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors' conclusion
Infections are common in patients with RA and frequently lead to medication interruptions. These infections are associated with greater fatigue and impaired work productivity and may contribute to more disease flares.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with RA recruited remotely July 2022–July 2023 through a community rheumatology practice-based research network (ArthritisPower Registry)1,674 monthly observations
- Participants
- 351 adults
- Exposure
- Observations with vs without an infection
- Outcome
- Frequency and characteristics of non-serious infections and their effect on medication interruptions, quality of life and disease flares
Methodological detailsremote recruitment, registry-based, monthly follow-up surveys
- Remote recruitment
- Registry-based
- Monthly follow-up surveys
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Infections reported (most frequently upper respiratory infections)
523
31% of observations
Infections leading to missed work
37%
Infections leading to RA treatment interruptions
26%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
RA treatment interruptions, with vs without health-care encounters or antibiotic use
- With vs without health-care encounters or antibiotic use
- 38% vs 12%
RA treatment interruptions, more vs less severe infections
- More severe vs less severe infections
- 47% vs 20%
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with vs without infection
- Infections associated with worse fatigue scores but not function, depression or social participation
Disease flares
- Flares more frequent in those with an infection who interrupted RA treatment, especially on TNFi
Original publication
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →