A Study of RoActemra/Actemra (Tocilizumab) in Combination With Methotrexate in Patients With Severe Active Rheumatoid Arthritis, Comparing Tapering Versus Maintaining the Methotrexate Dosage

The DAS28 defined as a combined index for measuring disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The index included swollen (range 0-28) and tender joint counts (TJC) (range 0-28), acute phase response Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), and general health status (range 1-100). The index was calculated using the following formula: The DAS28 was calculated as [0.28 x the square root of number of swollen joints] + [0.56 x the square root of number of tender joints] + [0.7 x the natural log of ESR] + [0.014 x patient global assessment of disease activity]. The DAS28 scale ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores represent higher disease activity.

The DAS28 defined as a combined index for measuring disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The index included swollen (range 0-28) and tender joint counts (TJC) (range 0-28), acute phase response Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), and general health status (range 1-100). The index was calculated using the following formula: The DAS28 was calculated as [0.28 x the square root of number of swollen joints] + [0.56 x the square root of number of tender joints] + [0.7 x the natural log of ESR] + [0.014 x patient global assessment of disease activity]. The DAS28 scale ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores represent higher disease activity.

Percentage of participants who achieve score of =1 in TJC and SJC at week 60 and 72 were reported. The number of swollen joints was recorded on the joint assessment form at each visit, no swelling = 0, swelling =1; total was calculated by adding all the joints for a maximum score of 28. The number of tender joints was recorded on the joint assessment form at each visit, no tenderness = 0, tenderness = 1; total was calculated by adding all the joints for a maximum score of 28.

The DAS28 index was calculated using the following formula: The DAS28 was calculated as [0.28 x the square root of number of swollen joints] + [0.56 x the square root of number of tender joints] + [0.7 x the natural log of ESR] + [0.014 x patient global assessment of disease activity]. Participants who achieve score <=3.2 at weeks 60 and 72 were reported.

The DAS28 index was calculated using the following formula: The DAS28 was calculated as [0.28 x the square root of number of swollen joints] + [0.56 x the square root of number of tender joints] + [0.7 x the natural log of ESR] + [0.014 x patient global assessment of disease activity]. Participants who achieve DAS28 remission score <2.6 at weeks 60 and 72 were reported.

The DAS28 index was calculated using the following formula: The DAS28 was calculated as [0.28 x the square root of number of swollen joints] + [0.56 x the square root of number of tender joints] + [0.7 x the natural log of ESR] + [0.014 x patient global assessment of disease activity]. Participants who achieve cDAS28 >=1.2 score at weeks 60 and 72 were reported.

Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) was an index for measuring disease activity in RA. The index was calculated using the following formula: CDAI: SJC28 + TJC28 + patient global assessment of disease (PGA) 10 centimeter [cm] Visual Analog Scale [VAS] + physician global assessment of disease (PhGA) 10 cm VAS. VAS assessments involved a 10 cm horizontal scale from 'no disease activity' to 'maximum disease activity.' CDAI scores ranged from 0 to 76, with higher scores indicating increased disease activity.

Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) was an index for measuring disease activity in RA. The index was calculated using the following formula: CDAI: SJC28 + TJC28 + PGA (10 cm VAS) + PhGA (10 cm VAS + C-Reactive Protein (CRP). VAS assessments involved a 10-cm horizontal scale from 'no disease activity' to 'maximum disease activity. Scores ranged from 0 to 86, with higher scores also indicating increased disease activity.

The HAQ-disability index (DI) evaluates participant-reported quality of life using 8 categories: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and other common activities such as running errands and performing household chores and 20 questions. Each category contains multiple questions, which were answered using a 4-point scale from 0 to 3. The overall index score was an average of the individual item responses and may range from 0 to 3, where higher scores indicate more difficulty in daily living activities. Improvement was defined as a decrease from Week 24 to Week 60 and 72. Reported is the percentage of participants with an improvement in HAQ-DI score.

The FACIT-fatigue assessment was a 13-item questionnaire with participants scoring each item on a 5-point scale (not at all; a little bit; somewhat; quite a bit and very much). The total score ranges from 0 to 65 and higher scores indicate more fatigue. Improvement was defined as a decrease from Week 24 to Week 60 and 72. Reported is the percentage of subjects with an improvement in total FACIT score.

Quality of life questionnaire (SF-12) scores were computed using the scores of 12 questions and ranged from 0 to 100, where a 0 score indicated the lowest level of health measured by the scales and 100 indicated the highest level of health. Improvement was defined as a decrease from Week 24 to Week 60 and 72. Reported is the percentage of subjects with an improvement in SF-12 score.

An AE was defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product. A SAE was any adverse event that can be fatal, life threatening, requires long or prolong hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, congenital anomaly or significant medical event in the investigator's judgment.

The WPAI-SHP questionnaire assesses work productivity and activity impairment. It is a patient-reported assessment regarding hours missed and hours worked at employment and degree to which a specified health problem affected work productivity and regular activities. It consists of 6 questions to assess the impact of a specific health problem on work productivity and on regular daily activities.

The WPAI-SHP questionnaire assesses work productivity and activity impairment. It is a patient-reported assessment regarding hours missed and hours worked at employment and degree to which a specified health problem affected work productivity and regular activities. It consists of 6 questions to assess the impact of a specific health problem on work productivity and on regular daily activities. Reported here are hours actually worked, work hours missed due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), work hours missed due to other reasons and the change from Week 24 for each of these parameters reported at Week 60 and Week 72.

The WPAI-SHP questionnaire assesses work productivity and activity impairment. It is a patient-reported assessment regarding hours missed and hours worked at employment and degree to which a specified health problem affected work productivity and regular activities. It consists of 6 questions to assess the impact of a specific health problem on work productivity and on regular daily activities. Assessments were made using a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 10 where 0 = minimum impact and 10 = maximum impact.