Difficult to treat rheumatoid arthritis in a comprehensive evaluation program: frequency according to different objective evaluations

Difficult-to-treat Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA-D2T) is a condition in which patients do not achieve the treatment target despite multiple advanced therapies, more others features. Aims: to estimate the frequency of RA-D2T in a cohort comprehensively evaluated (clinical, serology, imaging), and to analyze the associated characteristics. In a second part, the frequency of RA-D2T after 1 year of follow-up, analyzing the predictive variables at baseline and therapeutic behavior. Cross-sectional and prospective study, consecutive RA were included, then those who completed the one-year follow-up were evaluated. RA-D2T frequency was estimated (DAS28-CDAI-SDAI-Ultrasonography (US)-HAQ) at baseline and 1 year. The variables associated and those baseline predictive characteristics of D2T at 1 year, and their independent association by logistic regression were analyzed. The treatment approach was described. Two hundred seventy-six patients completed the evaluation, frequency of RA-D2T (all scores): 27.5%. Anemia, RF high titers and higher HAQ score were independent associated. At year, 125 competed follow-up. RA-D2T (all scores): 33%, D2T-US and D2T-HAQ were 14 and 18.4% (p 0.001). Predictive baseline characteristics D2T (all score): ACPA + (OR: 13.7) and X-ray erosion (OR: 2.9). D2T-US: X-ray erosion (OR: 19.7). Conventional DMARDs, corticosteroids and TNF-blockers were the drugs most used by D2T patients, Jaki were the most used in the switch. We showed different frequencies of RA-D2T according to different objective parameters (scores, images) and their association with patient characteristics. In turn, predictive variables (erosions—ACPA) for RA-D2T at 1 year were analyzed. It was shown that the Jaki were the most used drug in these patients.