Key clinical point: Difficult-to-treat (D2T) patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have a higher prevalence of fibromyalgia, higher body mass index (BMI), and more comorbidities than non-D2T patients with PsA.
Major finding: The potential D2T vs. non-D2T patients had a significantly higher prevalence of fibromyalgia (22.9% vs. 7.2%; P = .022) and a higher median BMI (27.7 vs. 25.7; P = .032), Functional Comorbidity Index value (1 vs. 0; P = .021), disease activity index value (17.2 vs. 7.1; P < .01), pain level (7 vs. 2.5; P < .01), and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index value (1 vs. 0.25; P < .001). Treatment failure with ≥2 biological or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs was observed in 100% vs. 8.5% of D2T vs. non-D2T patients, respectively.
Study details: This retrospective analysis of a longitudinal cohort included 106 patients with PsA, of which 36 patients were considered potential D2T candidates.
Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Perrotta FM et al. Clinical characteristics of potential “difficult-to-treat” patients with psoriatic arthritis: A retrospective analysis of a longitudinal cohort. Rheumatol Ther. 2022 May 25. doi: 10.1007/s40744-022-00461-w.