Patient Preference for Treatment Mode of Biologics in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A 2020 Web-based Survey in Japan

Although the proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) has increased steadily, the relationship between patient background and preference for bDMARDs has not been fully investigated.

We conducted a web-based questionnaire survey among patients aged ≥ 20 years with RA receiving bDMARDs. Participants were recruited through an internet research company in Japan. Study endpoints included factors affecting the preferred bDMARD treatment mode, namely, in-hospital intravenous infusion (infusion), in-hospital subcutaneous injection (in-hospital injection), or self-administered subcutaneous injection (self-injection), and discrepancies between the current and preferred treatment mode.

Of the 400 patients surveyed for preferred treatment mode, 15.3% preferred infusion, 18.0% preferred in-hospital injection, and 66.8% preferred self-injection. A preference for infusion (odds ratio [OR] 2.218 and 6.165) and in-hospital injection (OR 4.735 and 6.026) versus self-injection was significantly associated with higher current frequency of hospital visits and anxiety or other hurdles related to self-injection. A flexible administration setting was significantly associated with a preference for self-injection versus infusion (OR 0.401) and versus in-hospital injection (OR 0.445). Further, age (< 40 vs. ≥ 60 years) was significantly associated with a preference for self-injection versus in-hospital injection (OR 0.120). Many patients reported no discrepancy between their current and preferred treatment mode (patients receiving infusion, 68.0%; in-hospital injection, 71.2%; and self-injection, 94.0%). However, > 90% of patients responded that they would change their current mode in the future following a recommendation by a medical professional, aging, or a change in RA symptoms.

This web-based survey showed that patient preference for bDMARD treatment mode was significantly associated with age, frequency of hospital visits, flexible administration setting, and anxiety or other hurdles to self-injection. Changes in patient background which affect the preferred treatment mode should be considered in decision-making for RA therapy with bDMARDs.

R000048089 (UMIN-CTR).