Influences of Advanced Age in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Multicentre Ultrasonography Cohort Study.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effects of age on clinical characteristics and outcomes in biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD)-na & iuml;ve patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We analysed the cases of 234 Japanese b/tsDMARD-na & iuml;ve RA patients who underwent b/tsDMARD treatment in a multicentre ultrasound prospective observational cohort. We compared the clinical characteristics at baseline and outcomes at 12 months between those aged >= 60 years and those <60 years. Results: Compared to the <60-year-old group (n = 78), the >= 60-year-old group (n = 156) had higher inflammatory marker values and ultrasound combined scores, especially wrist joints, at baseline. Age at baseline positively correlated significantly with the ultrasound scores at baseline; however, age was not a significant variable by the multiple regression analysis. The patients treated with different MOAs in the >= 60-year-old group had comparable outcomes and multiple regression analysis revealed that mechanism of action (MOA) was not a significant contributor to the Clinical Disease Activity Index at 12 months. Conclusions: RA patients with advanced age demonstrated distinctive clinical characteristics. The MOAs were not associated with clinical outcomes and ultrasound outcomes in RA patients with advanced age.