Observational Study of Tocilizumab in Participants With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Australia

Percentage of participants with increase or decrease in tocilizumab administration according to the reason for dose modification was reported.

The time interval between two successive doses in days was reported.

Duration of morning stiffness was defined as the time elapsed between the time of usual awakening (even if not in the morning) and the time the participant was able to resume normal activities without stiffness. The participant assessment of morning stiffness was measured using a ruler on a 100 mm VAS by 1 of the six categories: less than (<) 30 minutes, between 30 and 240 minutes, greater than (>) 240 minutes and whole day.

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 able to resume normal activities without stiffness. The participant assessed morning stiffness based on the following criteria:

1. Presence of participant's joints stiff when woke up that day, measured as yes or no
2. Duration of morning stiffness, measured using a ruler on a 100 mm VAS by 1 of the six categories: < 30 minutes, between 30 and 240 minutes, > 240 minutes, and the whole day.
3. Severity of morning stiffness measured using a ruler on a 100 mm VAS where the responses were on a continuous range from 0 = no stiffness to 100 = maximum stiffness.

Percentage of participants who adhered to local label/protocol for the management of adverse events is reported.

The DAS28 score is a measurement of RA activity on a 0 to 10 scale, with higher scores representing higher disease activity, and calculated as DAS28 = 0.56 x √TJC28 + 0.28 x √SJC28 + 0.70 x natural logarithm (ln) (CRP + 1) + 0.014 x PGH + 0.96, where TJC28 = tender joint count on 28 units, SJC28 = swollen joint count on 28 units, CRP = serum concentration of c-reactive protein (after converting units to mg/dL), PGH = patient global assessment of disease activity, which was measured on a 100 mm VAS, where 0 = managing very well and 100 = managing very poorly. A score of less than 2.6 represents clinical remission, a score of greater than or equal to 2.6 and less than or equal to 3.2 represents low disease activity, a score of greater than 3.2 and less than or equal to 5.1 represents moderate disease activity, and a score of greater than 5.1 represents high (or severe) disease.

Clinical response was assessed according to EULAR criteria that classified the participant according to individual changes in DAS28 score as good, moderate, or no response. The DAS28 score is a measurement of RA activity on a 0 to 10 scale, with higher scores represent higher disease activity, and calculated as DAS28 = 0.56 x √TJC28 + 0.28 x √SJC28 + 0.36 x ln(CRP + 1) + 0.014 x PGH + 0.96, where TJC28 = tender joint count on 28 units, SJC28 = swollen joint count on 28 units, CRP = serum concentration of c-reactive protein (after converting units to mg/dL), PGH = patient's global assessment of disease activity, which was measured on a 100 mm VAS, where 0 = managing very well and 100 = managing very poorly. Good responders experienced a change from baseline of greater than 1.2 with a DAS28 score less than or equal to 3.2.

The CDAI is a combined index for measuring disease activity in RA and calculated as CDAI = TJC28 + SJC28 + PGH (in centimeters) + PhGH (in centimeters), where TJC28 = tender joint count on 28 units, SJC28 = swollen joint count on 28 units, PGH = patient's global assessment of disease activity, assessed on a 100 mm VAS, where 0 = managing very well and 100 = managing very poorly, and PhGH = physician global assessment of disease activity, assessed on a 100 mm VAS, where 0 = no arthritis activity and 100 = extremely active arthritis; with a total score ranged from 0-76. Higher scores indicate greater disease activity. CDAI score of less than or equal to 2.8 represents clinical remission, score of less than or equal to 10.0 represents low disease activity, score of less than or equal to 22.0 represents moderate disease activity, and score of greater than 22.0 represents high (or severe) disease.

TJC was determined by examining 28 and 68 joints and identified the joints that were painful under pressure or to passive motion. The number of tender joints was recorded on the joint assessment form at baseline, no tenderness = 0, tenderness = 1. SJC was determined by examination of 28 and 66 joints and identifying when swelling was present. The number of swollen joints was recorded on the joint assessment form at baseline, no swelling = 0, swelling =1.

The SDAI is a combined index for measuring disease activity in RA and calculated as SDAI = TJC28 + SJC28 + PGH (in centimeters) + PhGH (in centimeters) + CRP (in mg/dL), where TJC28 = tender joint count on 28 units, SJC28 = swollen joint count on 28 units, PGH = patient's global assessment of disease activity, assessed on a 100 mm VAS, where 0 = managing very well and 100 = managing very poorly, PhGH = physician global assessment of disease activity, assessed on a 100 mm VAS, where 0 = no arthritis activity and 100 = extremely active arthritis, CRP = serum concentration of c-reactive protein; with a total SDAI score ranged from 0-86. Higher scores indicate greater disease activity. SDAI scores of less than or equal to 3.3 represents clinical remission, less than or equal to 11.0 represents low disease activity, less than or equal to 26.0 represents moderate disease activity, and greater than 26.0 represents high (or severe) disease.

ACR 20,50 or 70 response=an improvement of ≥ 20%, ≥ 50% or ≥ 70% respectively, as compared to baseline in TJC28 and SJC28, and 20%, 50% or 70% improvement in at least 3 of the 5 following measures: Patient's Assessment of Pain over the previous 24 hours, PGA, PhGA, HAQ, and acute phase reactant (either CRP or ESR). TJC and SJC, based on 28-joint assessments. Number of tender joints and swollen joints were recorded on the joint assessment form at baseline, no tenderness = 0 and tenderness = 1, no swelling = 0 and swelling =1, respectively. HAQ measures functional status (disability) and health-related quality of life with 20 questions, summarized in 8 categories: dressing and grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip and common activities over past week, 0=without difficulty to 3=unable to do. Patient's assessment of pain assessed using a VAS; 0=no pain, 100=unbearable pain; PGA and PhGA, assessed using VAS ; 0= no disease activity, 100=maximum disease activity.

The physician global assessment of disease activity was evaluated using a 100 mm VAS where 0 = no arthritis activity and 100 = extremely active arthritis. Higher scores indicated increased level of disease.

The patient's global assessment of disease activity was measured using a 100 mm VAS, where the responses were on a continuous range from 0= managing very well and 100 = managing very poorly.

The HAQ-DI is a questionnaire that measures functional status (disability) and health-related quality of life. It measures the participant's ability to perform everyday tasks. The index consists of 20 questions regarding the function of the upper and lower extremities. These questions are summarized in 8 categories: dressing and grooming, arising, eating, walking, hygiene, reach, grip and common activities over past week. Each question was evaluated according to the degree of severity on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 = without any difficulty to 3 = unable to do. Total score is the sum of each question, which ranges from 0 to 60, where higher scores represent higher disease activity. The change from baseline in HAQ-DI score at Month 3 and Month 6 was calculated as the difference between HAQ-D1 score reported at baseline and the HAQ-D1 score reported at Month 3 and Month 6.

Participants measured the level of fatigue due to RA using a 100 mm VAS, where the responses were on a continuous range from 0 = no fatigue to 100 = extreme fatigue.

Participants measured the pain intensity due to RA using a 100 mm VAS, where the responses were on a continuous range from 0 = no pain to 100 = unbearable pain.

The participant assessment of morning stiffness was measured using a ruler on a 100 mm VAS, where the responses were on a continuous range from 0 = no stiffness and 100 = maximum stiffness.