ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

  • Meeting Abstracts
    • All Meetings
    • ACR Convergence 2026
    • PRSYM 2026
    • ACR Convergence 2025
    • Download Abstract Supplements
  • Keyword Index
  • My Favorites
    • View & print my favorites
  • Search

Home » Meeting Abstracts » ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting 2014

Abstract Number: 2912

Impact of Failure to Adhere to Treat-to-Target of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Real World Practice: Data from the International Rheumatoid Arthritis Biomarker Program

Walter P. Maksymowych1,2, M. Østergaard3, O Elkayam4, R Landewé5, J Homik6, C Thorne7, M Backhaus8, S Shaikh9, G Boire10, M Larche11, B Combe12, T Schaeverbeke13, A Saraux14, G Ferraccioli15, M Dougados16, C Barnabe17, M Govoni18, PP Tak19, D. van Schaardenburg20, D van der Heijde21, R Dadashova2, E Hutchings2, J Paschke2 and Oliver FitzGerald22, 1Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 2CaRE Arthritis, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 3Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Glostrup, Denmark, 4Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, 5Amsterdam Rheumatology Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 6University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 7Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket, ON, Canada, 8Rheumatology/Immunology, Charite University Hospital, Berlin, Germany, 9Niagara Peninsula Arthritis Centre, Hamilton, ON, Canada, 10CHUS-Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, 11St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada, 12Immuno-Rhumatologie, Hôpital Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France, 13Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France, 14CHU Brest and EA 2216, UBO, Brest, France, 15Catholic University of The Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy, 16Hopital Cochin, Paris, France, 17University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, 18Universita di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy, 19Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 20Jan van Breemen Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 21Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands, 22St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

Share on X (Twitter) Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Email
Print

Meeting: ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting 2014

Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and treatment

Session Information

Title: Rheumatoid Arthritis - Clinical Aspects VI: Impact of Treatment and Other Interventions

Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)

Background/Purpose . There is limited data on adherence to treat-to-target (T2T) strategies in RA in real world-practice and the impact of failure to adopt this best practice on clinical outcomes. We aimed to assess the impact of failure to adhere to T2T across 10 countries participating in the RA BIODAM program.

Methods . RA BIODAM is an international multicenter (35 sites, 620 patients) 2-year prospective study aimed at the clinical validation of biomarkers. Active RA patients are assessed for disease activity every 3 months with a prompt to make major treatment changes in order to achieve a DAS target of ≤2.4. An internet-based data entry and management system (IDEMS) was designed to automate calculation of the DAS and alert sites to the requirement for treatment change. If a treatment change was not made a reason for that decision was required. RA outcomes (HAQ, RAID, SF36) and attainment of remission (DAS, CDAI, SDAI, ACR Boolean) were compared by adherence to T2T and according to treatment category (DMARD, anti-TNF).

Results . As of June 2014, 500 patients have been recruited of whom 172 have completed at least 15 months follow-up. Adherence to T2T was 52% and non-adherence 42% for at least 1 study visit (the T2T failure visit). Reasons for non-adherence were: physician decision that current treatment was acceptable (69%), physician decision (other) (14%), patient decision (9%), physician decision due to concern for adverse event (2%), other non-specific (6%). Starting at 6 months of follow up and continuing to diverge though 15 months, all outcomes were superior in T2T adhered patients: improvement in SJC/TJC, patient/physician global, HAQ, RAID, SF36. Remission at 15 months follow up was more frequent in T2T adhered patients at 75% (DAS), 41% (CDAI), 41% (SDAI), 40% (ACR Boolean) compared to non-adhered patients at 30% (DAS), 12% (CDAI), 13% (SDAI), 15% (ACR Boolean) irrespective of therapy (standard DMARD, anti-TNF). Median data for DAS components at the T2T failure visit was 9 and 4 for TJC and SJC, 5 for patient global, and 16 for ESR (40.0% with ESR >20). At the subsequent visit, there was still no change in treatment in 37% despite DAS > 2.4: median was 10 and 4 for TJC and SJC, 5 for patient global, and 22.5 for ESR (54.0% with ESR >20).

Conclusion . Adherence to T2T is associated with consistent improvement in RA outcomes and increased rates of remission. However, there remains a substantial gap in implementation even in protocol-specified clinical settings.


 


Disclosure:

W. P. Maksymowych,

CarRE Arthritis,

6;

M. Østergaard,
None;

O. Elkayam,
None;

R. Landewé,
None;

J. Homik,
None;

C. Thorne,
None;

M. Backhaus,
None;

S. Shaikh,
None;

G. Boire,
None;

M. Larche,
None;

B. Combe,
None;

T. Schaeverbeke,
None;

A. Saraux,
None;

G. Ferraccioli,
None;

M. Dougados,
None;

C. Barnabe,
None;

M. Govoni,
None;

P. Tak,
None;

D. van Schaardenburg,
None;

D. van der Heijde,
None;

R. Dadashova,

CaRE Arthritis,

3;

E. Hutchings,

CaRE Arthritis,

3;

J. Paschke,

CaRE Arthritis,

3;

O. FitzGerald,
None.

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/impact-of-failure-to-adhere-to-treat-to-target-of-rheumatoid-arthritis-in-real-world-practice-data-from-the-international-rheumatoid-arthritis-biomarker-program/

My Favorites

Save and print abstracts during your browser session by clicking the “Favorite” button at the bottom of any abstract (must have cookies enabled in browser). See saved favorites.

Abstract Policies

  • ACR Convergence Abstract Embargo Policies
  • ACR Convergence Abstract Permissions & Reprints
  • PRSYM Abstract Policies

ACR Convergence. Where Rheumatology Meets

ACR Convergence 2026

Join us November 6-11 in Orlando, Florida.
See Registration Information

  • Contact ACR
  • Privacy Policy
  • ACR Policies
  • Cookie Preferences

© Copyright 2026 American College of Rheumatology