Health-related quality of life improvement by adalimumab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan - A nationwide prospective study

Q: What was the purpose of this study on adalimumab in rheumatoid arthritis?

To determine how adalimumab affects health-related quality of life in Taiwanese patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Q: How was adalimumab administered and for how long?

Patients received 40 mg adalimumab by subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks during a 24-week observational period.

Q: What outcomes were used to measure improvement in health-related quality of life?

The primary endpoint was change in HAQ-DI at 24 weeks, with secondary endpoints including HAQ-DI changes at week 12 and improvements, plus SF-36, EQ-5D-3L index, and WPAI scores at weeks 12 and 24.

Sep 29, 2026

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Health-related quality of life was assessed to determine the effects of adalimumab in Taiwanese patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a nationwide prospective observational study. One hundred biologic-naive patients received 40 mg adalimumab subcutaneously every 2 weeks over 24 weeks. The primary outcome was change in HAQ-DI at 24 weeks; secondary outcomes included HAQ-DI at week 12, meaningful HAQ-DI improvement rates, and changes in SF-36, EQ-5D-3L index, and WPAI at weeks 12 and 24. HRQoL improved after initiation of adalimumab, with exploratory associations involving diabetes and peptic ulcer.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

J Chin MedAssoc Original article Health-related quality of life improvement by adalimumab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan: A nationwide prospective study Song-Chou Hsieha, Ping-Han Tsaib, Chang-Fu Kuoc, Tien-Tsai Chengd, Ning-Sheng Laie, Jing-Chi Linf, Liang-Hung Ling, Chang-Youh Tsaih,* aDivision of Rheumatology, Immunology & Allergy, Department of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; bDivision of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital (Built and Operated by Chang Gung Medical Foundation), New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; cDivision of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC; dDivision of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Chang Gung University and Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; eDivision of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan, ROC; fDivision of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan, ROC; gDivision of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC; hDivision of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC Abstract Background: To determine the effects of adalimumab on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Taiwanese patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (NCT02616380) . Methods: During a 24-week observational period, 100 biologic-naive patients with RA received 40 mg adalimumab subcutaneously, every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was a change in Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score at 24 weeks. The secondary endpoints included change in HAQ-DI at week 12, number and percentage of patients achieving a meaningful improvement in HAQ-DI at weeks 12 and 24, and changes in the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), EuroQol 5-dimension 3-level version (EQ-5D-3L) index, and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire scores at weeks 12 and 24. Results: At weeks 12 and 24, mean changes in HAQ-DI from baseline were −0.34 ± 0.46 and −0.44 ± 0.59 (both p < 0.001), and clinically meaningful improvement in HAQ-DI was achieved by 60 .4% and 59.6% of patients, respectively. SF-36, EQ-5D-3L index, and WPAI scores significantly improved (p < 0 .001) from baseline to weeks 12 and 24. Exploratory analyses showed diabetes was significantly associated with changes in HAQ-DI, EQ-5D-3L, and WPAI scores whereas peptic ulcer correlated with changes in the SF-36 physical component summary T-score. Conclusion: HRQoL improved after initiation of adalimumab therapy in Taiwanese patients with moderate-to-severe RA. Keywords: Adalimumab; Health-related quality of life; Rheumatoid arthritis 1.INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating, chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent synovial inflammation, articular damage, and cartilage breakdown in peripheral joints.1 If inadequately treated, continual joint damage can *Address correspondence. Dr. Chang-Youh Tsai, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, 69, Guizi Road, New Taipei City 243, Taiwan, [ROC. E-mail address: cytsai1240@gmail.com](ROC. E-mail address: cytsai1240@gmail.com) (C.-Y. Tsai). Conflicts of interest: Dr. Chang-Youh Tsai, an editorial board member at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, had no role in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in

FAQs

What was the purpose of this study on adalimumab in rheumatoid arthritis?

To determine how adalimumab affects health-related quality of life in Taiwanese patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis.

How was adalimumab administered and for how long?

Patients received 40 mg adalimumab by subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks during a 24-week observational period.

What outcomes were used to measure improvement in health-related quality of life?

The primary endpoint was change in HAQ-DI at 24 weeks, with secondary endpoints including HAQ-DI changes at week 12 and improvements, plus SF-36, EQ-5D-3L index, and WPAI scores at weeks 12 and 24.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Aditya