Clinical and functional remission: even though biologics are superior to conventional DMARDs overall success rates remain low – results from RABBIT, the German biologics register

Table 3 Odds ratios (OR) of remission at 12 months.

	Remission according to DAS28 (DAS28 <2.6)				Remission according to modified ARA criteria
	Univariate		Multivariate		Univariate		Multivariate
	OR	95% CI	Adj. OR	95% CI	OR	95% CI	Adj. OR	95% CI
DAS28	0.53	0.45–0.62	0.46	0.35–0.61	0.69	0.59–0.82
Propensity score (scale: 0 to 1)^a	0.86	0.80–0.93	0.89	0.80–0.99	0.92	0.85–1.00	0.84	0.75–0.94
Rheumatoid factor positive	0.51	0.35–0.75			0.68	0.44–1.06
ESR^b	0.75	0.68–0.82			0.92	0.85–1.00
CRP^b	0.94	0.89–1.00			0.96	0.90–1.01
Swollen joint count	0.93	0.91–0.96			0.96	0.93–0.99
Tender joint count	0.94	0.92–0.97	1.05	1.01–1.09	0.94	0.92–0.97
FFbH^b	1.26	1.17–1.37			1.21	1.11–1.32	1.13	1.03–1.25
No. of previous DMARD
4 to 5 versus 2 to 3	0.68	0.47–0.97			0.74	0.50–1.10
≥6 versus 2 to 3	0.47	0.24–0.91			0.53	0.26–1.10
Female	0.88	0.59–1.31			1.06	0.67–1.69
Age^b	0.68	0.59–0.78	0.74	0.62–0.87	0.72	0.62–0.84	0.72	0.61–0.85
Disease duration (years)	0.98	0.96–1.00			0.99	0.96–1.00
Disease duration ≤2 years versus >2 years	1.86	0.97–3.58			0.81	0.32–2.09
Any comorbidity yes versus no	0.52	0.37–0.73			0.68	0.46–1.01
Osteoporosis yes versus no	0.38	0.23–0.61	0.51	0.30–0.87	0.69	0.44–1.10
BIOL versus CON	1.08	0.73–1.59	1.95	1.20–3.19	1.35	0.85–2.13	2.05	1.19–3.52
Anti-TNF agents versus CON	1.10	0.74–1.63	1.97	1.20–3.21	1.39	0.88–2.20	2.09	1.22–3.59
Anakinra versus CON	0.71	0.26–1.91	1.66	0.56–4.91	0.68	0.20–2.36	1.19	0.33–4.34

Results of different univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Final multivariate models were found by stepwise regression. ^aOdds ratios (ORs) refer to 0.1 units of the propensity score. ^bThe ORs refer to 10 units of the parameter. Adj. OR, adjusted odds ratio; ARA, American Rheumatology Association; BIOL, patients treated with biologics; CI, confidence interval; CON, patients receiving conventional DMARD treatment (control group); CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28, disease activity score based on 28 joint counts; DMARD, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; FFbH, Funktionsfragebogen Hannover (Hannover Functional Status Questionnaire); TNF, tumor necrosis factor.

ISSN: 1478-6362