Arthritis Research Canada at EULAR 2023
The EULAR Congress attracts more than 18,000 delegates from over 130 countries and takes place in a major European city. This year, the EULAR Congress takes place in Milan between May 31 and June 3. However, people can also attend the event virtually.
To learn about Arthritis Research Canada research presented at the EULAR European Congress of Rheumatology (Day 1), please scroll down.
Mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events after glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist initiation in patients with autoimmune diseases and type 2 diabetes: A population-based study
This population-based cohort study using administrative health data from British Columbia showed that patients with autoimmune diseases and type 2 diabetes who were prescribed glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists had lower risk of death and major cardiovascular events, like heart attacks and strokes, than people who were prescribed another drug used for diabetes, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors. Both drugs are used for type 2 diabetes, but glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists lower blood sugars more effectively and also help with weight loss.
Research Team: Karacabeyli D, Lu N, McCormick N, Choi H, Lacaille D, Aviña-Zubieta JA.
Specific symptom clusters at diagnosis signal a poorer early RA prognosis: data from the Canadian early arthritis cohort
Using data from a cohort of patients with new onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis across Canada (the CATCH cohort), researchers were able to identify patterns of symptoms at the time of diagnosis that predict future response to treatment. People who had more pain and people who had more other symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep problems, depression, or anxiety, were less likely to have improvement in their disease over the next 6 months.
Research Team: Bartlett S. J., Bingham C. O., Schieir O. , Valois M. F., Boire G. ,Pope J. , Bessette L., Thorne C. ,Tin D., Hitchon C., Hazlewood G., Keystone E., Bykerk V.
Pros and disease activity in year prior to COVID predict trajectories of depression in adults with RA in first 2 years of pandemic: data from the Canadian early arthritis cohort
This study of people living rheumatoid arthritis across Canada (CATCH cohort) found that although 60% of people had consistently good mental health during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic,22% reported deteriorating mood over that time; 9% had persistent depression and 8% improving mood. The proportion of adults with RA with at least mild symptoms of depression was more than twice that reported for the general Canadian population. Participants with worsening depressive symptoms during the pandemic were more likely to be female, have higher prepandemic disease activity, more symptoms, more impact on physical function and on ability to participate in work and other valued life activities. Given the impact of depression on quality of life, inflammation, and response to treatment, groups at higher risk of depression may benefit from more frequent mood evaluation and additional support from rheumatology providers.
Research Team: Bartlett S. J., Schieir O., Valois M. F., Pope J., Bessette L., Boire G., Hitchon C., Keystone E., Thorne C., Tin D., Hazlewood G., Bykerk V.
Comparison of survival on treatment among new users of biosimilar vs. originator biologics in inflammatory arthritis: population-based evidence from a natural experiment due to a policy change
Biologic medications have transformed the treatment of inflammatory types of arthritis due to their unparalleled effectiveness at stopping inflammation and preventing joint damage. But they are very costly. Biosimilars are near identical copies that are available at a lower cost, once the patent of the original drug expires. This study evaluated the BC Ministry of Health’s policy mandating that all new biologic prescriptions use a biosimilar when available. Using real world data from everyone in BC, the study showed that people prescribed biosimilars for etanercept and infliximab remain on treatment as long as people prescribed the originator, indicating the biosimilars are as safe and as effective.
Research Team: Lacaille D, Avina-Zubieta JA, Zheng Y, Lu N, Xie H.
Survival on treatment after switching to a biosimilar: population-based evidence from a natural experiment due to a policy change
Biologic medications have transformed the treatment of inflammatory types of arthritis due to their unparalleled effectiveness at stopping inflammation and preventing joint damage. But they are very costly. Biosimilars are near identical copies that are available at a lower cost, once the patent of the original drug expires. This study evaluated the BC Ministry of Health’s policy mandating that all people taking a biologic medication transition to using a biosimilar when available. Using real world data from everyone in BC, the study showed that people who switched from the original brand of etanercept and infliximab to a biosimilar version remain on treatment as long as people who had remained on the originator before the policy was implemented, indicating the biosimilars are as safe and as effective.
Research Team: Lacaille D, Avina-Zubieta JA, Zheng Y, Lu N, Xie H.
Doing everything possible to prioritize work: lived work experience of young adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (YASLE)
This qualitative study described the lived experience with work of young adults with lupus. Most participants report being employed and setting a high priority on work. They recognized the importance of their health in helping them to work. They diverted considerable energy/ resources from other aspects of life to maintain work. This work also identified multiple potential targets for interventions to help them continue working. By focusing on young adulthood, this will ensure that our strategies will be most appropriate for their life-stage, maximizing impacts.
Research Team: Golding M., Nishat F., Merrill K., Kaur R., Stinson J., Protudjer J., Woodgate R., Peschken C., Lacaille D., Oguzoglo U., Touma Z., Lim L.
Having more tender than swollen joints is associated with worse function, pain interference, social participation and other HR-QOL outcomes in the first year following RA diagnosis: results from the Canadian early arthritis cohort study
This study of people across Canada with new onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis (the CATCH cohort) looked at the impact of joints that are tender but not swollen. They found that over half of patients have more tender than swollen joints, which persists in a third of patients. Having more tender joints was associated with worse physical function, more pain interference, lower participation in work and social activities, and worse quality of life over 1-year of follow-up.
Research Team: Meng C. ,Lee Y., Schieir O., Valois M.F., Butler M., Boire G., Hazlewood G., Hitchon C., Keystone E., Tin D., Thorne C. , Bessette L., Pope J., Bartlett S. J., Bykerk V.
Worsening Burden of Gout Among Asian American Adults – General Population-Based Study (2011-2018)
Using nationwide data from the USA and UK, we found gout now affects more Asian adults in these two countries than adults of any other racial/ethnic group; data were not available for Canada. Unlike our prior study on gout disparities between Black and White Americans, these Asian-White disparities were not driven by social and clinical factors.
Research Team: Yokose C, McCormick N, Lu N, Tanikella S, Lin K, Joshi AD, Raffield LM, Warner ET, Merriman TR, Hsu J, Saag K, Zhang Y, Choi HK.
