An Extension Study of WA19926 of the Long-Term Safety of Tocilizumab (RoActemra/Actemra) in Patients With Early Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis

The DAS28-ESR Scale is a measure of a participant's disease activity. It is based on tender joint count (28 joints), swollen joint count (28 joints), a participant's assessment of disease activity, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. DAS28-ESR is expressed as a score on a scale with a minimum score of 0 (low disease activity ) to a maximum score of 10 (high disease activity). A negative mean percent change from baseline indicates a decrease in disease activity, and a positive mean percent change from baseline indicates an increase in disease activity.

The Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) is the numerical sum of five outcome parameters: tender joint count (TJC) and swollen joint count (SJC), based on a 28-joint assessment, patient and physician global assessment assessed on 0-10 centimeter (cm) visual analogue scale (VAS), where 0 = no disease activity and 10 = worst disease activity, and level of C-reactive protein (CRP, mg/dL). SDAI total score = 0-86. SDAI <=3.3 indicates clinical remission, >3.4 to 11 = low disease activity, >11 to 26 = moderate disease activity, and >26 = high (or severe) disease activity. A negative mean percent change from baseline indicates a decrease in disease activity, and a positive mean percent change from baseline indicates an increase in disease activity.

Number of tender joints was determined by examination of 66 joints, as assessed through pressure and passive joint motion during physical examination.

Number of swollen joints was determined by examination of 66 joints, as assessed through pressure and passive joint motion during physical examination.

Treatment-free remission is remission at two consecutive assessment visits (every 12 weeks) after discontinuing study drug on the second assessment visit. Clinical remission is DAS28-ESR score <2.6 and/or SDAI score ≤3.3. The DAS28-ESR scale is a measure of a participant's disease activity based on tender joint count (28 joints), swollen joint count (28 joints), a participant's assessment of disease activity, and ESR. DAS28-ESR scored on a scale with a minimum score of 0 (low disease activity) to a maximum score of 10 (high disease activity). The SDAI is sum of TJC and SJC, based on a 28-joint assessment, patient and physician global assessment assessed on 0-10 centimeter visual analogue scale (VAS), where 0 = no disease activity and 10 = worst disease activity, and level of C-reactive protein (CRP, mg/dL). SDAI total score = 0-86. SDAI <=3.3 indicates clinical remission, >3.4 to 11=low disease activity, >11 to 26=moderate disease activity, and >26=high (or severe) disease activity.

Time to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) recurrence = period from treatment-free remission to RA recurrence. RA recurrence was worsening of disease activity with treatment beyond supportive therapy.

The participant's overall assessment of their current disease activity was displayed on a 100-millimeter (mm) horizontal VAS. The left-hand extreme (0 mm) of the line was described as "no disease activity" (symptom free and no arthritis symptoms) and the right-hand extreme (100 mm) was described as "maximum disease activity" (maximum arthritis disease activity). The change in Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity was determined as the difference in values from baseline at each visit.

Participants' pain was assessed using a 10-mm horizontal VAS (0 to 10 mm) where 0=pain absent and 10=intolerable pain. Participants responded by placing a mark on the line to indicate their current level of pain; the distance from the left edge to the mark was recorded.

The HAQ-DI was used to assess the physical ability and functional status of participants as well as quality of life. The disability dimension consists of 20 multiple choice items concerning difficulty in performing 8 common activities of daily living; dressing and grooming, arising, eating, walking, reaching, personal hygiene, gripping and activities. Participants choose from 4 response categories, ranging from 'without any difficulty' (Score=0) to 'unable to do' (Score=3). The overall score is the average of each of the 8 category scores and ranges from 0 to 3, where 0 represents no disability and 3 very severe, high-dependency disability.