Comparison of remission and low disease activity states with DAPSA, MDA and VLDA in a clinical trial setting in psoriatic arthritis patients: 2-year results from the FUTURE 2 study

Abstract

Objectives: Remission (REM) or low disease activity (LDA) states were compared in a clinical trial setting of the FUTURE 2 study (NCT01752634) using Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) and Minimal Disease Activity (MDA) composite indices in secukinumab treated PsA patients.

Methods: The proportion of patients reaching DAPSA-REM (cut-off ≤4) or REM+LDA (≤14), and very low disease activity (VLDA; achieving 7/7 criteria) or MDA (≥5/7), were compared in the overall population, by prior use of anti-TNF therapy, and by time since diagnosis using as observed data. The proportion of patients who met individual core component and other variables of interest were also computed to assess residual disease activity in DAPSA-REM/REM+LDA states and VLDA/MDA responses. The relationship between DAPSA/MDA and patient reported outcomes (PROs), including health-related quality of life, physical function, and fatigue were assessed using mixed model for repeated measures.

Results: More patients could achieve DAPSA-REM or DAPSA-REM+LDA status than VLDA or MDA responses, respectively, at all the time points in the overall population, irrespective of anti‒TNF status and time since diagnosis. Higher proportion of patients reaching DAPSA-REM or VLDA achieved more thresholds of core components (joints, pain, patient and physician global assessments, and function) than DAPSA-REM+LDA or MDA over Week 104. There were differences with numerically higher proportion of patients achieving patient global assessment ≤10 mm and ≤20 mm, and physician global assessment ≤10 mm with MDA than with DAPSA-REM+LDA, and patient pain VAS ≤15 mm, PASI ≤1, HAQ ≤0.5 with VLDA or MDA than with DAPSA-REM or DAPSA-REM+LDA, respectively, through 104 weeks. Improvements in PROs were significantly better for patients in DAPSA-REM+LDA versus DAPSA-moderate+high disease activity status, and for MDA responders versus non-responders.

Conclusion: These analysis add to the evidence that both DAPSA and MDA composite index measures can be used for evaluation of the status and treatment response utilizing a treat to target approach in PsA patients in a clinical trial setting and improve patient health related outcomes.

Funding: The study and analysis was funded by Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords: DAPSA; Disease activity; MDA; Psoriatic arthritis; Remission; Spondyloarthritis.