A Study on Safety and Efficacy of Tocilizumab (RoActemra/Actemra) Alone or in Combination With Non-Biologic Antirheumatics in Participants With Rheumatoid Arthritis

DAS28 was calculated from swollen joint count (SJC) and tender joint count (TJC) using 28 joints count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; millimeters per hour [mm/hour]), and patient's global assessment of disease activity (measured on a 0 to 100 mm Visual Analog Scale [VAS] where 0 mm=no disease activity and 100 mm=worst disease activity). DAS28 scores were calculated as [0.56 × square root of TJC] + [0.28 × square root of SJC] + [0.70 × natural log (ESR)] + [0.014 × VAS]. Total score range: 0-10, higher score=higher disease activity. DAS28-ESR less than or equal to (≤) 3.2 implied low disease activity and greater than (>) 3.2 to 5.1 implied moderate to high disease activity, and DAS28-ESR less than (<) 2.6 implied clinical remission.

A participant had an ACR20 response if there was at least a 20 percent (%) improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in TJC and SJC (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0 mm=no disease activity to 100 mm=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0 mm=no disease activity to 100 mm=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0 mm=no pain to 100 mm=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (either C-reactive protein [CRP] or ESR).

A participant had an ACR50 response if there was at least a 50% improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in TJC and SJC (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0 mm=no disease activity to 100 mm=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0 mm=no disease activity to 100 mm=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0 mm=no pain to 100 mm=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (either CRP or ESR).

A participant had an ACR70 response if there was at least a 70% improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in TJC and SJC (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0 mm=no disease activity to 100 mm=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0 mm=no disease activity to 100 mm=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0 mm=no pain to 100 mm=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (either CRP or ESR).

A participant had an ACR90 response if there was at least a 90% improvement, ie, reduction from Baseline, in TJC and SJC (28 assessed joints) and in at least 3 of the following 5 parameters: 1) Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0 mm=no disease activity to 100 mm=maximum disease activity]; 2) Patient's Global Assessment of Disease Activity [VAS: 0 mm=no disease activity to 100 mm=maximum disease activity]; 3) Patient's Assessment of Pain [VAS: 0 mm=no pain to 100 mm=unbearable pain]; 4) Health Assessment Questionnaire [20 questions, 8 components: dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and activities, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do] and 5) an acute-phase reactant (either CRP or ESR).

DAS28-ESR was calculated from SJC and TJC using 28 joints count, ESR (mm/hour), and patient's global assessment of disease activity (VAS: 0 mm=no disease activity to 100 mm=maximum disease activity). DAS28-ESR scores were calculated as [0.56 × square root of TJC] + [0.28 × square root of SJC] + [0.70 × natural log (ESR)] + [0.014 × VAS]. The DAS28-ESR based EULAR response criteria were used to measure individual response as none, good, and moderate, depending on the extent of change from baseline and the level of disease activity reached. Good responders had a change from baseline >1.2 with a DAS28 score ≤3.2; moderate responders had a change from baseline >1.2 with a DAS28 score >3.2 or a change from baseline >0.6 to ≤1.2 with a DAS28 score ≤5.1. Participants with change from baseline >0.6 to ≤1.2 with a DAS28 score >5.1, or any score with change from baseline ≤0.6, were assessed as non-responders.

The SDAI is the numerical sum of five outcome parameters: TJC and SJC based on a 28-joint assessment, patient and physician global assessment of disease activity assessed on 0-10 centimeter (cm) VAS (0 cm= no disease activity and 10 cm= worst disease activity), and CRP in milligrams per liter (mg/L). 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 .

The CDAI is the numerical sum of four outcome parameters: TJC and SJC based on a 28-joint assessment, patient and physician's global assessment of disease activity assessed on 0-10 cm VAS (0 cm= no disease activity and 10 cm= worst disease activity). CDAI total score = 0-76. CDAI <= 2.8 indicates clinical remission, >2.8 to 10 = low disease activity, >10 to 22 = moderate disease activity, and >22 = high (or severe) disease activity.

Number of tender joints was determined by examining 28 joints for TJC28 and 68 joints for TJC68, and identified the joints that were painful under pressure or to passive motion. 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 for a TJC28 and 68 for a TJC68. A reduction in number of tender joints compared to baseline indicates improvement.

Number of swollen joints was determined by examination of 28 joints for SJC28 and 66 joints for SJC66 and identifying when swelling was present. 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 for a SJC28 and 66 for a SJC66. A reduction in number of swollen joints compared to baseline indicates improvement.

Results are reported for percentage of participants who had NSAIDs dose reductions or discontinuation by reasons for dose reductions or discontinuation (unknown reasons, safety reasons, other reasons, lack of efficacy, and discomfort).

Results are reported for percentage of participants who had corticosteroid dose reductions or discontinuation by reasons for dose reductions or discontinuation (unknown reasons, safety reasons, other reasons, lack of efficacy, and discomfort).

Time to discontinuation or first dose reduction of corticosteroids or NSAIDs (weeks) = (Date of the first dose reduction or end date of corticosteroids or NSAIDs treatment - date of first drug intake of this study) + 1. Time to discontinuation or first dose reduction was based on the first occurring event (corticosteroid discontinuation or corticosteroid first dose reduction or NSAIDs discontinuation or NSAIDs first dose reduction, whichever occurred first).

Patient global assessment of disease activity was measured on a 0 to 100 mm horizontal VAS where 0 mm=no disease activity and 100 mm=maximum disease activity.

This assessment represents the participant's assessment of his/her current level of pain on a 100 mm horizontal VAS where 0 mm= no pain to 100 mm= unbearable pain.

The HAQ-DI questionnaire measures functional status (disability) and health-related quality of life. It measures the participant's ability to perform everyday tasks. The index consists of 20 questions regarding the function of the upper and lower extremities. These questions are summarized in 8 categories: dressing and grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip, and common activities over past week. Each question is evaluated according to the degree of severity on a 4-point scale. Total score for HAQ-DI was the average of all questions and ranges from 0 = without any difficulty to 3 = unable to do.

A diary card was provided to participants to record home injections. Participants were asked to return all empty drug supply boxes, unused pre-filled syringe, and diary cards to the clinic at each visit as a measure of drug accountability and participant compliance. A participant was considered compliant if the participant correctly administered all scheduled doses of SC tocilizumab during the assessment period.

The FACIT-F score was calculated according to a 13-item questionnaire that assesses self-reported fatigue and its impact upon daily activities and function. FACIT-F is a 13-item questionnaire. Participants scored each item on a 5-point scale: 0 (Not at all) to 4 (Very much). The larger the participant's response to the questions (with the exception of 2 negatively stated), the greater the participants fatigue. For all questions, except for the 2 negatively stated ones, the code was reversed and a new score was calculated as (4 minus the participant's response). The sum of all responses resulted in the FACIT-Fatigue score for a total possible score of 0 (worse score) to 52 (better score).