A Study of Tocilizumab + DMARDs in Patients With Moderate to Severe Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

Improvement of anemia was evaluated as change in hemoglobin levels from baseline.

The FACIT-Fatigue 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). Clinically relevant improvement is defined as a ≥5-point change from Baseline.

The FACIT-Fatigue 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). Clinically relevant improvement is defined as a ≥5-point change from Baseline.

The ACR response rates ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 were defined as ≥20%, ≥50% and ≥ 70% improvement, respectively, in: swollen joint count (SJC) (66 joints) and tender joint count (TJC) (68 joints) and 3 of the 5 remaining ACR parameters: Patient assessment of pain; Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity; Investigator Global Assessment of Disease Activity; participant self-rated assessment of disability measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI); and acute phase response (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] or C-reactive protein [CRP]).

Sixty-eight (68) joints were assessed at each visit for tenderness; joints were assessed and classified as tender/not tender. Tender joint count 68 (TJC-68) was calculated as the number of tender joints from 68 joints; the number of tender joints was summed (maximum score 68). Calculated values were used for the analysis. A negative score indicated improvement.

Sixty-six (66) joints were assessed at each visit for swelling; joints were assessed and classified as swollen/not swollen. Swollen joint count 66 (SJC-66) was calculated as the number of swollen joints from 66 joints; the number of swollen joints was summed (maximum score 66). Calculated values were used for the analysis. A negative score indicated improvement.

The participant's assessment of their current level of pain was displayed on a 100-millimeter (mm) horizontal visual analog scale (VAS). The left-hand extreme of the line was described as "no pain" and the right-hand as "unbearable pain". The participant was asked to mark the line that corresponded to their current level of pain; the distance from the left edge was recorded.

The participant's overall assessment of their current disease activity was displayed on a 100-mm horizontal VAS. The left-hand extreme of the line was described as "no disease activity" (symptom free and no arthritis symptoms) and the right-hand extreme as "maximum disease activity" (maximum arthritis disease activity). Participants were asked to assess their current level of disease activity and mark the line; the distance from the left edge was recorded.

The physician's assessment of the participant's current disease activity was displayed on a 100-mm horizontal VAS. The left-hand extreme of the line was described as "no disease activity" (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) and the right-hand extreme was considered "maximum disease activity". The physician's global assessment of disease activity was completed by the Efficacy Assessor who could or could not be a physician. The assessor was asked to mark the line corresponding to their assessment of the participant's present level of disease activity; the distance from the left edge was recorded.

HAQ-DI includes 20 questions concerning participant's activities of daily life, grouped in 8 scales of 2 to 3 questions for each activity. To respond to each question, a four-level response (score of 0 to 3 points), with higher scores showing larger functional limitations, was chosen. Overall score was computed as the sum of the domain scores and divided by the number of domains answered. Total possible score range was 0-3 where 0 (equals)=without difficulties; 1= with some difficulties; 2=with great difficulties; and 3=unable to perform these actions at all.

hs-CRP is an acute phase reactant protein that is a clinical marker for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). hsCRP is measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L).

ESR is a blood test used to monitor therapy in inflammatory diseases such as RA and reflects acute phase reactant levels. ESR is measured in mm per hour (mm/hr); active disease in RA is defined by an ESR greater than 30 mm/hr.

Disease response was assessed using EULAR Disease Activity Score Based on 28-Joint Count (DAS28) categories of Good, Moderate, or No Response. Good response was defined as a DAS28 score of less than (<)3.2 and improvement from baseline of >1.2; Moderate response was defined as a DAS28 score of 3.2-5.1 and improvement from baseline of 1.2-0.6 or a DAS28 score of >5.1 and improvement from baseline of >1.2; No response was defined as a DAS28 score of >5.1 and improvement from baseline of <1.2. Participants who discontinued prematurely were identified as non-responders.

DAS28 calculated from the number of swollen joints (SJC) and tender joints (TJC) using the 28 joints count, the ESR (mm/hr) and patient's global assessment of disease activity (participant rated arthritis activity assessment) with transformed scores ranging 0 to 10; higher scores indicated greater affectation due to disease activity). DAS28 ≤3.2=low disease activity, DAS28 >5.1=high disease activity and DAS <2.6=remission.

DAS28 calculated from the number of swollen joints (SJC) and tender joints (TJC) using the 28 joints count, the ESR (mm/hr) and patient's global assessment of disease activity (participant rated arthritis activity assessment) with transformed scores ranging 0 to 10; higher scores indicated greater affectation due to disease activity). DAS28 ≤3.2=low disease activity, DAS28 >5.1=high disease activity and DAS <2.6=remission.

The SF-HLQ assessed productivity losses related to health problems in individuals with paid or unpaid work and consists of three modules (absenteeism from paid work, production losses without absenteeism from paid work and hindrance in the performance of paid and unpaid work). Any missed working days or number of worked days with reduced efficiency during the last month were reported.

The SF-HLQ assessed productivity losses related to health problems in individuals with paid or unpaid work and consists of three modules (absenteeism from paid work, production losses without absenteeism from paid work and hindrance in the performance of paid and unpaid work). Any missed working days or number of worked days with reduced efficiency during the last month were reported.

Number of working hours lost, and number of hours of support in in taking over and performing usual household tasks in the last month: chores done by family members, chores done by other persons receiving no pay, home care, other paid care, total number of unpaid hours, and total number of hours during the last month were reported.

Number of working hours lost, and number of hours of support in in taking over and performing usual household tasks in the last month: chores done by family members, chores done by other persons receiving no pay, home care, other paid care, total number of unpaid hours, and total number of hours during the last month were reported. Changes from baseline were only calculated in participants who completed the questionnaire at all times (baseline, Week 12, and Week 24). Negative number indicates improvement.

Participants were asked if their health problems hindered their paid work on a scale of 1 to 3 (1=no, 2=yes, slightly, 3=yes, very much) and their unpaid work including household work, going shopping, odd jobs, specific activities sharing the household on a scale of 0 to 3 (0=performed without being bothered by healthy problems; 1=performed although bothered by health problems; 2=not performed because of health problems; 3=not performed for reasons other than health problems). The total hindrance score for unpaid work was derived by adding up the item scores. This hindrance score is a measure of the hindrance experienced as a result of health problems during the performance of unpaid work. The minimum score per item for hindrance score was 0, maximum score was 2 (Score of 3 was not considered since the reasons were "other than health problems"). Total score was calculated by adding all 4 items together and ranged from 0 (best possible score) to 8 (worst possible score).

Participants were asked if health problems hindered their paid work on a scale of 1 to 3 (1=no, 2=yes, slightly, 3=yes, very much) and their unpaid work including household work, going shopping, odd jobs, specific activities sharing the household on a scale of 0 to 3 (0=performed without being bothered by healthy problems; 1=performed although bothered by health problems; 2=not performed because of health problems; 3=not performed for reasons other than health problems). Hindrance score is a measure of the hindrance experienced as a result of health problems during the performance of unpaid work. The minimum score per item for hindrance score was 0, maximum score was 2 (Score of 3 was not considered since the reasons were "other than health problems"). Total score was calculated by adding all 4 items together and ranged from 0 (best possible score) to 8 (worst possible score). A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.

Participants were ask to rate their efficiency in working on a scale of of 0 to 10 (0=very worse, 10=as usual). Overall efficiency score was based on the first 6 items of Question 6, which is a descriptive instrument comprised of 7 items designed to evaluate the specific problems affecting production. These 7 items relate to the effect of health problems on concentration, work pace, the need to be alone, making decisions, postponing and transferring work to others. The participant can choose from 4 possible answers: (almost) never, sometimes, often and (nearly) always. Efficiency score range=6 to 24; higher scores indicate higher impairment.

Participants were ask to rate their efficiency in working on a scale of of 0 to 10 (0=very worse, 10=as usual). Overall efficiency score was based on the first 6 items of Question 6, which is a descriptive instrument comprised of 7 items designed to evaluate the specific problems affecting production. These 7 items relate to the effect of health problems on concentration, work pace, the need to be alone, making decisions, postponing and transferring work to others. The participant can choose from 4 possible answers: (almost) never, sometimes, often and (nearly) always. Efficiency score range=6 to 24; higher scores indicate higher impairment. Change from baseline was only calculated for participants who completed the questionnaire at all times (baseline, Week 12 and Week 24). A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.