Rheumatology

A significant proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis are not doing any physical activity when starting methotrexate treatment or stop soon after, researchers report.

Add-on rituximab treatment may improve some clinical outcomes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to leflunomide, suggest findings from the AMARA trial.

Researchers report that secukinumab is associated with an increased risk for gastrointestinal-related adverse events in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and pre-existing inflammatory bowel disease and say that prescribing alternatives should be considered.

People with knee osteoarthritis taking part in an internet-based exercise program experience significant improvements in pain and function compared with those given usual care, suggest findings from a randomized controlled trial published in JAMA Network Open.

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Depression and anxiety are linked to a decreased likelihood of achieving sustained minimal disease activity in people with psoriatic arthritis, Canadian researchers report.

Treatment with the IL-6 receptor inhibitor sarilumab does not improve clinical outcomes for people with severe or critical COVID-19, trial results suggest.

The addition of tocilizumab to standard care does not reduce the risk for disease progression among hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19, suggest findings from the COVINTOC trial conducted in India.

Real-world study results suggest that less than a third of patients with giant cell arteritis and/or polymyalgia rheumatica are able to discontinue glucocorticoid treatment for at least 6 months, and a substantial proportion remain on prednisone for at least 2 years.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia could be delivered via the telephone to patients with osteoarthritis, proving useful for those unable to access in-person options, OATS trial findings suggest.

Following myocardial infarction, people with rheumatoid arthritis have an elevated long-term risk for mortality and further cardiovascular disease events, researchers report.

Twelve weeks of high-dose vitamin D supplementation does not improve pain levels for women with fibromyalgia, research suggests.

Researchers have found that adolescents with chronic musculoskeletal pain, particularly those with gastrointestinal problems, may be at risk for disordered eating.

Findings from the REMAP-CAP trial indicate that add-on treatment with tocilizumab or sarilumab may be beneficial for critically ill patients with COVID-19, whereas COVACTA suggests comparable outcomes with tocilizumab versus placebo in those with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

People with psoriatic arthritis may have an elevated risk for type 2 diabetes that is mediated in part by BMI, researchers report.

Two studies have evaluated the perspectives of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases on COVID-19 vaccination, with both finding that a physician’s recommendation would improve patients’ willingness to be vaccinated.

Real-world data confirm the effectiveness of tocilizumab for decreasing relapse risk and allowing corticosteroid reduction in heavily treated patients with giant cell arteritis.

The phase 3 POSTURE trial has demonstrated no clinical benefit of apremilast for patients with active ankylosing spondylitis and no prior exposure to biologic agents.

Older people with late-onset rheumatoid arthritis show a similar response to biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs to their peers whose disease onset was earlier in life, Japanese study findings indicate.

High-intensity strength training does not significantly reduce pain or knee joint compressive forces among people with knee osteoarthritis, suggest findings from the START trial.