Determining a low disease activity threshold for decision to maintain disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment unchanged in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine a low disease activity threshold--a 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) value--for the decision to maintain unchanged disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients, based on expert opinion.


METHODS
Nine hundred and sixty-seven case scenarios with various levels for each component of the DAS28 (resulting in a disease activity score between 2 and 3.2) were presented to 44 panelists. For each scenario, panelists had to decide whether or not DMARD treatment (excluding steroids) could be maintained unchanged. In each scenario, for decision, the participants were given the DAS28 parameters, without knowledge of the resultant DAS28. The relationship between panelists' decision, DAS28 value, and components of the score were analysed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Each panelist analysed 160 randomised scenarios. Intra-rater and inter-rater reproducibility were assessed.


RESULTS
Forty-four panelists participated in the study. Inter-panelist agreement was good (kappa = 0.63; 95% confidence interval = 0.61 to 0.65). Intra-panelist agreement was excellent (kappa = 0.87; 95% confidence interval = 0.82 to 0.92). Quasi-perfect agreement was observed for DAS28 < or = 2.4, less pronounced between 2.5 and 2.9, and almost no agreement for DAS28 > 3.0. For values below 2.5, panelists agreed to maintain unchanged DMARDs; for values above 2.5, discrepancies occurred more frequently as the DAS28 value increased. Multivariate analysis confirmed the relationship between panelist's decision, DAS28 value and components of the DAS28. Between DAS28 of 2.4 and 3.2, a major determinant for panelists' decision was swollen joint count. Female and public practice physicians decided more often to maintain treatment unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
As a conclusion, panelists suggested that in clinical practice there is no need to change DMARD treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients with DAS28 < or = 2.4.
Centre hospitalier d'Aulnay sous Bois, Service de Rhumatologie, Boulevard Ballanger, Aulnay sous Bois F-93600, France. mdebandt@gmail.com
Michel
M
de Bandt
Bruno
B
Fautrel
Jean Francis
JF
Maillefert
Jean Marie
JM
Berthelot
Bernard
B
Combe
René-Marc
RM
Flipo
Frédéric
F
Lioté
Olivier
O
Meyer
Alain
A
Saraux
Daniel
D
Wendling
Xavier
X
Le Loët
Francis
F
Guillemin
D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000592:standards*
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents