Improvement of work ability, quality of life, and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with adalimumab.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of 12-month treatment with adalimumab on work ability, quality of life, and fatigue in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
One hundred twenty-six patients with active RA started treatment with adalimumab. Primary outcome measurements were work ability, assessed by the first item of the Work Ability Index, quality of life, assessed by the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL) instrument, and fatigue, assessed by the Checklist Individual Strength and the Need for Recovery after work Scale.


RESULTS
All primary outcome measurements showed a significant improvement. The largest improvement for all outcome measurements was gained in the first 6 months of treatment and was sustained over the following 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Adalimumab improves patient reported outcomes in addition to improving disease activity in established RA.
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Marieke M J
MM
Herenius
Jan L
JL
Hoving
Judith K
JK
Sluiter
Hennie G
HG
Raterman
Willem F
WF
Lems
Ben A C
BA
Dijkmans
Paul Peter
PP
Tak
Mike T
MT
Nurmohamed
Alexandre E
AE
Voskuyl
Monique H W
MH
Frings-Dresen
D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004526:Efficiency; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D000079424:Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000079424:Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors; D000068879:Adalimumab; D008727:Methotrexate