A Non-Interventional Study of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated With RoActemra/Actemra (Tocilizumab) in Monotherapy

Systemic manifestations of RA included anemia, fatigue, conventional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) above upper limit of normal, rheumatoid nodules, rheumatoid vasculitis and interstitial lung disease. Participants were included if they experienced at least any one of the conditions.

The time to DMARD addition equals to the time (days) between tocilizumab start and first start date of DMARDs.

Number of dose modification per participant at Month 6 was reported.

TJC was determined by examining 28 and 68 joints and identifying the joints that were painful under pressure or to passive motion. Tenderness was recorded on the joint assessment form at baseline, no tenderness = 0, tenderness = 1.

SJC was determined by examining 28 and 66 joints and identifying when swelling was present. Swelling was recorded on the joint assessment form at baseline, no swelling = 0, swelling =1.

DAS28 was calculated from SJC and TJC using 28 joints count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (millimeter per hour [mm/hr]), and patient global assessment of disease activity (PGH) (measured on a 0 to 100 millimeter (mm) Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) where 0=no disease activity and 100=worst disease activity). DAS28 is a measurement of RA activity on a 0 to 10 scale: a score greater than (>) 5.1 indicates high disease activity; a score between 3.2 and 5.1 indicates moderate disease activity; a score of less than 3.2 indicates low disease activity; a score of less than (<) 2.6 is considered remission.

Clinical response assessed as per EULAR categorical DAS28 response criteria was defined as clinically meaningful improvement at a particular time point. EULAR response was based on change from baseline (CFB) in the DAS28 score and also on the actual DAS28 score at the time point so was more reflective of the current status of the participant. EULAR Good response: DAS28 <=3.2 and a CFB <-1.2. EULAR Moderate response: DAS28 >3.2 to ≤ 5.1 or a CFB < -0.6 to ≥ -1.2. EULAR No response: DAS28 ≤3.2 or CFB greater than or equal to (>=) -0.6, DAS28 >3.2 to <=5.1 or CFB>=-0.6 and DAS28 >5.1 or CFB >=-0.6. The DAS28 score was a measure of the participant's disease activity, based on the TJC (28 joints), SJC (28 joints), PGH, and ESR. DAS28 total scores ranged from 0 to approximately 10. Scores <2.6 = best disease control and scores >5.1 = worse disease control. A negative CFB indicated clinically meaningful improvement.

ACR response was calculated based on total joint count evaluation (28 or 66/68 joint count) and other clinical and laboratory assessments. A positive ACR20 response required at least a 20% improvement (reduction) compared to baseline in swollen joint count (66 joints) and tender joint count (68 joints) and at least 3 of the following 5 assessments: patient's global assessment of pain, PGH, PhGH (all 3 assessed at 0 [good] to 100 mm [worst] VAS scale), participant assessment of disability measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) (assessed on a 0 to 3 scale, where higher scores represented higher disease activity), Acute phase reactant (CRP or ESR). A reduction in the level of and acute phase reactants was considered an improvement. ACR50, ACR70, ACR90 require a 50%, 70%, 90% improvement from baseline respectively.

CDAI is the numerical sum of 4 outcome parameters: TJC and SJC based on a 28-joint assessment, PGH and physician global assessment of disease activity (PhGH) assessed on 0-10 cm VAS; 0 = no disease activity and 10 = 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.

The SDAI was a combined index for measuring disease activity in RA which reflected the numerical sum of five outcome parameters: TJC and SJC based on a 28-joint assessment, PGH and PhGH, assessed on 0-100 mm VAS where 0 = no disease activity and 100 = worst disease activity, and C-reactive protein (CRP). SDAI total score = 0-86. A SDAI score </= 3.3 represented clinical remission, a score of between 3.4 and 11.0 represented low disease activity, a score between 11 and 26.0 represented moderate disease activity and a score > 26.0 represented high (or severe) disease.

The Patient Global Assessment of disease activity provides an overall assessment of how RA affects the participant using a visual analogue score, where 0 indicates they are managing very well and 100 indicates they are managing very poorly. A decrease in the score indicates improvement.

The physician's global assessment of disease activity was assessed using a 0 to 100 mm horizontal VAS by the physician. The left-hand extreme of the line equals 0 mm, and is described as "no disease activity" (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) and the right-hand extreme equals 100 mm, as "maximum disease activity" (maximum arthritis disease activity). A negative change from Baseline indicated improvement.

The HAQ was a participant self-reported questionnaire for assessing the extent of a participant's functional ability. It consisted of 20 questions in 8 categories (dressing and grooming, rising, eating, walking, reach, grip, hygiene, and carrying out daily activities). Each question had 4 response options, ranging from 0=no difficulty; 1=some difficulty; 2=much difficulty; 3=unable to do. The HAQ scale was an average of all the scores and ranged from 0 to 3, where higher scores represented higher disease activity.

The VAS-fatigue provides an overall assessment of the level of fatigue that the participant is experiencing using a visual analogue score, where 0 indicates no fatigue and 100 indicates extreme fatigue. A decrease in the score indicates improvement.

The Patient Global Assessment of pain provides an overall assessment of the severity of pain that the participant is experiencing using a visual analogue score, where 0 indicates no pain and 100 indicates unbearable pain. A decrease in the score indicates improvement.

Morning stiffness was defined by the time elapsed between the time of usual awakening (even if not in the morning) and the time the participant was as limber as he/she would be during a day involving typical activities. Morning stiffness was assessed on a 100 mm VAS, where 0= none and 100= very severe.

An AE was considered any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease associated with the use of the study drug, whether or not considered related to the study drug. An Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) is any untoward medical occurrence that, at any dose, results in death, is life threatening, requires hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in disability/incapacity, or results in a congenital anomaly/birth defect. AESI included- serious/medically significant infections; myocardial Infarction/acute coronary syndrome; gastrointestinal perforations; malignancies; anaphylaxis/hypersensitivity reactions; demyelinating disorders; stroke; serious/medically significant bleeding events; serious/medically significant hepatic events.

CRP is an acute phase reactant and is a measure of inflammation.

ESR is an acute phase reactant and is a measure of inflammation.