Response to Tofacitinib in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis and Probable Anxiety/Depressive Disorder: A Post Hoc...

Mental health status potentially influences treatment responses. The effect of probable anxiety and/or depressive disorder (pADD) on tofacitinib efficacy, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and safety in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was assessed.

This was a post hoc analysis of two phase 3 trials in patients with PsA receiving tofacitinib, adalimumab, or placebo, and an open-label extension study. Outcomes were stratified by presence/absence of baseline pADD (Short Form-36 Health Survey [SF-36] Mental Component Summary score ≤ 38/ > 38). American College of Rheumatology ≥ 20%, ≥ 50%, and ≥ 70% (ACR20/50/70) responses, remission and/or low disease activity based on Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score and Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis score, minimal disease activity, and PROs (pain/Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index/fatigue) were assessed through month 36. Safety was assessed through month 12.

Overall, 323/706 (45.8%) patients had baseline pADD; of these, a higher proportion were female versus male (61.9% vs. 38.1%). Numerically higher proportions achieved efficacy/PRO responses with tofacitinib versus placebo, regardless of baseline pADD (month 3). Responses with tofacitinib were generally similar in patients with versus without baseline pADD (e.g., month 3 ACR20 responses: 54.0% vs. 58.5%); some differences were observed at later time points (e.g., month 9 minimal disease activity: 25.0% vs. 43.8%; p < 0.05). Baseline pADD did not appear to affect the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events.

Baseline pADD was frequent in patients with PsA initiating tofacitinib and was higher in female patients. Tofacitinib-treated patients had generally similar efficacy/safety outcomes, regardless of baseline pADD. Some differences in efficacy outcomes were noted in the longer term (9-12 months). Limitations of this study include small numbers in some analyses and use of SF-36 as pADD proxy.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01877668; NCT01882439; NCT01976364.