The Effect of Targeted Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutics on Systemic Inflammation and Anemia

BMI body mass index, CCP cyclic citrullinated peptide, CDAI Clinical Disease Activity Index, CRP C-reactive protein, CVD cardiovascular disease, HAQ Health Assessment Questionnaire, Hb hemoglobin, IL-6Ri interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor, JAKi Janus kinase inhibitor, N/A not applicable, RA rheumatoid arthritis, RF rheumatoid factor, SD standard deviation, TNFi tumor necrosis factor inhibitor
^aCertolizumab pegol, n = 269; etanercept, n = 416; adalimumab, n = 522; infliximab, n = 280; golimumab, n = 319
^bTocilizumab, n = 433; sarilumab, n = 52
^cBaricitinib, n = 33; upadacitinib, n = 9; tofacitnib, n = 439
^dNon-parametric test was used: the Fisher exact test for categorical variables and Kruskal–Wallis test for continuous variables (for all other characteristics in the table, chi-square tests were used for categorical variables and one-way analysis of variance for continuous variables)
^eLaboratory monitoring is not mandated in this observational registry
^fNormal defined as Hb ≥ 12 g/dL for females and Hb ≥ 13 g/dL for males and CRP < 0.8 mg/dL
^gHistory of CVD includes myocardial infarction, stroke, acute coronary syndrome, coronary artery disease, coronary heart failure, revascularization procedure including percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting or coronary artery stents, ventricular arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, unstable angina, peripheral arterial disease, other cardiovascular events, pulmonary embolism, carotid artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, and transient ischemic attack
^hHistory of malignancy includes lymphoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, non-melanoma skin cancer, and other cancers
ⁱSerious infections include infections that led to hospitalization or intravenous antibiotics: joint/bursa, cellulitis, sinusitis, diverticulitis, sepsis, pneumonia, bronchitis, gastroenteritis, meningitis, urinary tract infection, upper respiratory tract infection, or infection of other specified sites
^jConcomitant therapy excludes any disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug
^kIn addition, there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) for the IL-6Ri and JAKi groups combined, compared with the TNFi group

Authors and Disclosures

Anthony S. Padula¹*, Dimitrios A. Pappas², Stefano Fiore³, Taylor S. Blachley², Kerri Ford³, Kelechi Emeanuru^2,4 and Joel M. Kremer<sup>2

1</sup>Northern California Arthritis Center, 120 La Casa Via, Suite 204, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA. ²CorEvitas, Waltham, MA, USA. ³Sanofi, Bridgewater, NJ, USA. ⁴ Evidera, Bethesda, MD, USA.

*Correspondence
anthony.padula@gmail.com

Authors' contributions
All authors were involved in the design of the study, interpreted the data, were responsible for the drafting of the manuscript, and critically revised the drafts. Data were collected by ASP, DAP, KE, and JMK. Statistical analysis was done by TSB. The final version of the manuscript was approved by all authors, who had full access to all of the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Competing interests
ASP has nothing to disclose. DAP is an employee of CorEvitas, LLC and may own company stock; he is also a consultant for Novartis, Regeneron, and Roche. SF and KF are employees of Sanofi and may hold shares and/or stock options in the company. TSB is an employee of CorEvitas, LLC. KE was an employee of CorEvitas, LLC during the development of this study. JMK has an equity interest in CorEvitas, LLC and consults for them.