An Observational Study of the Impact of RoActemra/Actemra on Fatigue in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis (PEPS)

Mean disease (rheumatoid arthritis) duration at inclusion was recorded for all participants as baseline disease characteristics.

Blood was collected for Rheumatoid Factor (RF) at Baseline and was analyzed. RF level was reported in international units/milliliter (IU/mL). All participants were assessed for anti-cyclic citrullinated protein (anti-CCP) antibodies at baseline. Number of participants with a positive RF and/or anti-CCP antibodies were reported as baseline disease characteristics.

For tender joint count, a total of 68 joints were assessed. The presence of a tender joint was scored as 1 and absence as 0. Total score is calculated by adding the scores, which is ranging from 0 (best possible score or no tender joint) to 68 (worse possible score or all tender joints). Lower scores indicate no tender joint and higher scores indicate worsening tender joints.

For swollen joint count, a total of 66 joints were assessed. The presence of a tender joint was scored as 1 and absence as 0. Total score is calculated by adding the scores, which is ranging from 0 (best possible score or no swollen joint) to 66 (worse possible score or all swollen joints). Lower scores indicate no swollen joint and higher scores indicate worsening swollen joints. Tender joint count and swollen joint count were assessed at baseline and were used as baseline disease characteristics for assessment of rheumatoid arthritis.

DAS28 is a combined index for measuring disease activity in RA. The index includes swollen (range 0-28) and tender (range 0-28) joint counts, acute phase response (ESR in mm/h), and patient's global assessment of disease activity (measured on a 100-mm visual analog scale, where 0 is no disease activity and 100 is maximum disease activity). The DAS28 scale ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate worsening disease activity. VAS pain score calculated as 0 to 10 cm; where 0 = no pain, and 10 = worst possible pain. HAQ indicates how the disease affected participant's activities of daily life. It consisted of 20 questions in 8 domains (dressing/grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip; common daily activities) rated on a 4-point scale, 0=without any difficulty to 3=unable to do. Sum of scores was divided by number of domains with a score for a total possible score of 0 (best/no difficulties to perform activities) to 3 (worst/ unable to perform activities at all).

High Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) was defined as (1) for participants aged up to 50 years: > 15 mm/h for men and > 20 mm/h for women, and (2) for participants aged over 50 years: > 20 mm/h for men and > 25 mm/h for women. Anemia was defined as plasma hemoglobin level <12 gram per deciliter (g/dL) for women and <13 g/dL for men. The CRP test is evaluated for an acute phase reactant of inflammation. A decrease in the level of CRP indicates reduction in inflammation and therefore improvement. Patient-Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) that is defined as the highest level of symptom beyond which participants consider themselves well. PASS is a 1-question assessment of how rheumatoid arthritis has affected participant in last 48 hours.

FACIT-fatigue score and VAS fatigue score were fatigue assessment parameters. FACIT-Fatigue score assesses self-reported fatigue and its impact upon daily activities and function. It is calculated with 13-item questionnaire on 5-point scale, 0 (not at all) to 4 (very much). The larger the participant's response to the questions (exception of 2 negatively stated), the greater the participants fatigue. For all questions (except for 2 negatively stated), the code is reversed and a new score is calculated as 4 minus the participant's response. The sum of all responses results a total possible score of 0 (worse score) to 52 (better score). VAS fatigue score ranges from 0 (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) to 100 (worsening in symptoms and arthritis disease activity). Clinically relevant improvement is defined as >/= 4-point change from Baseline.

Correlation between FACIT-Fatigue score and VAS fatigue was evaluated for all participants at inclusion and after 4 months of tocilizumab treatment (relative change from baseline) using a linear regression. FACIT-Fatigue score assesses self-reported fatigue and its impact upon daily activities and function. It is calculated with 13-item questionnaire on 5-point scale, 0 (not at all) to 4 (very much). The larger the participant's response to the questions (exception of 2 negatively stated), the greater the participants fatigue. For all questions (except for 2 negatively stated), the code is reversed and a new score is calculated as 4 minus the participant's response. The sum of all responses results a total possible score of 0 (worse score) to 52 (better score). VAS fatigue score ranging from 0 (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) to 100 (worsening in symptoms and arthritis disease activity)

The time of onset of a clinically significant improvement of fatigue was defined as the time between the date of the first tocilizumab infusion and the date of the first increase of at least 4 points of the FACIT-Fatigue score (date of questionnaire completion) during 4 months of tocilizumab treatment. FACIT-Fatigue score assesses self-reported fatigue and its impact upon daily activities and function. It is calculated with 13-item questionnaire on 5-point scale, 0 (not at all) to 4 (very much). The larger the participant's response to the questions (exception of 2 negatively stated), the greater the participants fatigue. For all questions (except for 2 negatively stated), the code is reversed and a new score is calculated as 4 minus the participant's response. The sum of all responses results a total possible score of 0 (worse score) to 52 (better score).

Relative change from Baseline (BL) in DAS 28 was evaluated for all participants at each evaluation time (on raw data at inclusion; at Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and Month 4 using a linear regression. DAS-28 and VAS patient's global assessment (PGA) were described as continuous variables for all participants at each evaluation time points (Baseline to M4). DAS 28 ranging from 0 (no disease activity) to 10 (worsening in disease activity) and VAS PGA ranging from 0 (symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms) to 100 (worsening of symptoms and arthritis disease activity),

Relative change (RC) from Baseline (BL) in disease activity included TJC and SJC was evaluated as continuous variables for all participants at each evaluation time points.

For tender joint count, a total of 68 joints were assessed. The presence of a tender joint was scored as 1 and absence as 0. Total score is calculated by adding the scores, which is ranging from 0 (best possible score or no tender joint) to 68 (worse possible score or all tender joints). Lower scores indicate no tender joint and higher scores indicate worsening tender joints. For swollen joint count, a total of 66 joints were assessed. The presence of a tender joint was scored as 1 and absence as 0. Total score is calculated by adding the scores, which is ranging from 0 (best possible score or no swollen joint) to 66 (worse possible score or all swollen joints). Lower scores indicate no swollen joint and higher scores indicate worsening swollen joints.

The correlation between fatigue and ESR value was evaluated for all participants at each evaluation time (on raw data at inclusion; on relative changes at M1 to M4) using a linear regression. ESR values were described as continuous variables for all participants at each evaluation time (Baseline to M4).

The correlation between fatigue and CRP value was evaluated for all participants at each evaluation time (on raw data at inclusion; on relative changes at M1 to M4) using a linear regression. CRP values were described as continuous variables for all participants at each evaluation time (Baseline to M4).

A PASS score at Day 0 and Month 4 calculated on participants with acceptable symptom state. PASS is defined as the highest level of symptom beyond which participants consider themselves well. PASS is a 1-question assessment of how rheumatoid arthritis has affected participant in last 48 hours.

FACIT-Fatigue score (ranging from 0 [worse score] to 52 [better score]), VAS (ranging from 0 [symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms] to 100 [worsening in arthritis disease activity]) and SF36 vitality score (ranging from 0 [worst] to 100 [best]) were calculated at Baseline and Month 4.

Fatigue was assessed by FACIT-Fatigue scale (ranging from 0 [worse score] to 52 [better score]) and VAS fatigue (ranging from 0 [symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms] to 100 [worsening of symptoms and arthritis disease activity]). Other participant reported outcomes (PROs) were VAS for pain and quality of sleep (ranging from 0 [symptom-free and no arthritis symptoms] to 100 [worsening in arthritis disease activity]), SF36 vitality score (ranging from 0 [worst] to 100 [best]) and HAD score (calculated using the 14 items and each item was scored 0, 1, 2 or 3 where a score of 3 corresponds to the most anxious/depressed. 7-item depression and 7-item anxiety subscales were summed; each resulting in a total score of 0-21). Correlation between fatigue as assessed by FACIT-Fatigue score or VAS fatigue was evaluated for all participants using a linear regression and were reported for D0 and M4.

Participants with tocilizumab treatment were managed according to number of tocilizumab treatment received according to Summary of Product Characteristics recommendations, as 8 mg/kg, dose duration of 1-hour, correct infusion progress; and received DMARD, methotrexate, and corticosteroids concomitantly with tocilizumab during Months 1 to 4.

An Any Adverse Events (AEs) is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant or clinical investigation participant, temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not considered to be related to the medicinal product. 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.