Factors associated with the achievement of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-free remission in rheumatoid arthritis: the ANSWER cohort study

Table 3 Hazard ratios for bDMARD-free remission failure (multivariate analysis)

Factor	HR (95% CI)	p value
Type of bDMARD
TNFi(mAb)/TNFi(R/P)	0.67 (0.42–1.08)	0.10
TNFi(mAb)/CTLA4-Ig	1.04 (0.54–1.97)	0.91
TNFi(mAb)/IL-6Ri	0.63 (0.40–0.99)	0.05
CTLA4-Ig/TNFi(R/P)	0.65 (0.33–1.29)	0.22
CTLA4-Ig/IL-6Ri	0.61 (0.31–1.18)	0.14
TNFi(R/P)/IL-6Ri	0.93 (0.56–1.56)	0.79
Disease duration < 2 years /≥ 2 years	0.97 (0.65–1.44)	0.89
bDMARD-naïve, naïve/switch	0.85 (0.57–1.26)	0.42
Reason for discontinuation, remission/other reason	0.66 (0.38–1.14)	0.13
Boolean remission at the time of discontinuation, achieved/not achieved	0.63 (0.42–0.93)	0.02
Remission maintenance period before discontinuation, > 6 months/≥ 6 months	0.50 (0.32–0.78)	0.00
Methotrexate usage at the time of discontinuation, yes/no	1.10 (0.70–1.74)	0.67
Glucocorticoid usage at the time of discontinuation, yes/no	1.50 (1.05–2.15)	0.03

Cox’s proportional hazard model used to determine factors associated with maintenance of bDMARD-free remission in multivariate analysis. Factors included in the analysis selected according to results of univariate analysis and clinical meaningfulness
bDMARD biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, HR hazard ratio, CI confidence interval, TNFi(mAb) monoclonal antibodies against TNF (infliximab, adalimumab, and golimumab), TNFi(R/P) soluble TNF receptor or Fab fragments against TNF fused with polyethylene glycol (etanercept and certolizumab), CTLA4-Ig abatacept, IL-6Ri interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor (tocilizumab), TNF tumor necrosis factor

ISSN: 1478-6362