RA: Depression tied to greater disease activity and pain

Key clinical point: Depression was associated with greater short-term disease activity and more severe and persistent pain in US veterans with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving methotrexate.

Major finding: Depression was associated with significantly higher 28-joint count disease activity scores at 6 months (β, 0.345; P = .045) but not at 1- (P = .477) and 2- (P = .804) year follow-up. Moreover, depression was significantly associated with higher patient-reported pain at 6 months (β, 0.385; P = .029) and 1 year (β, 0.396; P = .028).

Study details: The study included 268 US veterans (89.2% males) with early RA (duration less than 2 years) prescribed methotrexate, identified from the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Rheumatology Research Foundation’s Scientist Development Award, the National Institute on Ageing, VA Clinical Science Research and Development Service, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The authors reported receiving grants from various organizations and/or pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Rathbun AM et al. J Rheumatol. 2020 Nov 15. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.200743.

Key clinical point: Depression was associated with greater short-term disease activity and more severe and persistent pain in US veterans with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving methotrexate.

Major finding: Depression was associated with significantly higher 28-joint count disease activity scores at 6 months (β, 0.345; P = .045) but not at 1- (P = .477) and 2- (P = .804) year follow-up. Moreover, depression was significantly associated with higher patient-reported pain at 6 months (β, 0.385; P = .029) and 1 year (β, 0.396; P = .028).

Study details: The study included 268 US veterans (89.2% males) with early RA (duration less than 2 years) prescribed methotrexate, identified from the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Rheumatology Research Foundation’s Scientist Development Award, the National Institute on Ageing, VA Clinical Science Research and Development Service, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The authors reported receiving grants from various organizations and/or pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Rathbun AM et al. J Rheumatol. 2020 Nov 15. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.200743.

Key clinical point: Depression was associated with greater short-term disease activity and more severe and persistent pain in US veterans with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving methotrexate.

Major finding: Depression was associated with significantly higher 28-joint count disease activity scores at 6 months (β, 0.345; P = .045) but not at 1- (P = .477) and 2- (P = .804) year follow-up. Moreover, depression was significantly associated with higher patient-reported pain at 6 months (β, 0.385; P = .029) and 1 year (β, 0.396; P = .028).

Study details: The study included 268 US veterans (89.2% males) with early RA (duration less than 2 years) prescribed methotrexate, identified from the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Rheumatology Research Foundation’s Scientist Development Award, the National Institute on Ageing, VA Clinical Science Research and Development Service, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The authors reported receiving grants from various organizations and/or pharmaceutical companies.

Source: Rathbun AM et al. J Rheumatol. 2020 Nov 15. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.200743.