OBJECTIVES

: To assess the impact of golimumab on quality-of-life (QoL) and other patient-reported outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in real-world settings.

METHODS

: GO-Q was an observational, prospective, 12-month study conducted in Greece, in naïve to golimumab patients with moderate-to-severe active RA; patients previously treated with >1 biologic (b)DMARDs or switching anti-TNFs were excluded. Primary endpoint: the impact of golimumab on QoL at 3/6/12 months, by the EQ-5Q-3L questionnaire. Other endpoints assessed the impact of golimumab on disease activity (Disease Activity Score for 28 joints with erythrocyte sedimentation rate [DAS28-ESR]), physical function (Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index [HAQ-DI]), and work productivity/activity impairment (by Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire [WPAI] for RA), at 3/6/12 months respectively. Non-parametric tests were used for all comparisons.

RESULTS

: A total of 145 patients were enrolled (age and disease duration [mean±sd]: 54.6±12.2 and 4.6±5.1 years, respectively). At baseline, 78.6% of patients were bDMARD-naïve, 87.6% had received conventional synthetic (cs)DMARDs and 77.2% corticosteroids. During follow-up, golimumab was mostly (99.4%) administered in the 50mg once-monthly dose, plus background csDMARDs. Improvements in EQ-5D-3L UK index scores from baseline to 3/6/12 months were: 0.21±0.24, 0.28±0.25, 0.38±0.30, respectively (p<0.001, all comparisons). DAS28-ESR scores improved from baseline to 3/6/12 months; mean±sd scores were 5.4±0.9, 4.1±1.2, 3.7±1.2 and 3.2±1.1, respectively (p<0.001, all comparisons). Of patients attending the 12-month visit, 27.3% and 54.6% achieved DAS28-ESR<2.6 (remission) and DAS28-ESR≤3.2 (low disease activity). Improvements were observed in HAQ-DI and WPAI scores from baseline to 3/6/12 months (p<0.001, all comparisons). Mean adherence rate to golimumab was 90.3%; non-significant difference in adherence rates for bDMARD-naïve vs. -experienced (p=0.152). Healthcare resources for RA-related reasons were utilised by >93.2% of pts.

CONCLUSIONS

: In real-world settings, patients with RA receiving golimumab over 12 months experienced significant improvements in QoL, physical function and work productivity/activity impairment.