Influences of advanced age in rheumatoid arthritis: A multicentre ultrasonography cohort study

We aimed to evaluate the effects of age on clinical characteristics and outcomes in biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD)-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

We analysed the cases of 234 Japanese b/tsDMARD-naïve RA patients who underwent b/tsDMARD treatment in a multicentre ultrasound prospective observational cohort. We compared the clinical characteristics at baseline and outcomes at 12 months between those aged ≥60 years and those <60 years.

Compared to the <60-year-old group (n = 78), the ≥60-year-old group (n = 156) had higher inflammatory marker values and ultrasound combined scores, especially wrist joints, at baseline. Age at baseline positively correlated significantly with the ultrasound scores at baseline; however, age was not a significant variable by the multiple regression analysis. The patients treated with different MOAs in the ≥60-year-old group had comparable outcomes and multiple regression analysis revealed that mechanism of action (MOA) was not a significant contributor to the Clinical Disease Activity Index at 12 months.

RA patients with advanced age demonstrated distinctive clinical characteristics. The MOAs were not associated with clinical outcomes and ultrasound outcomes in RA patients with advanced age.