TY - JOUR T1 - Improvement and longterm maintenance of quality of life during treatment with adalimumab in severe rheumatoid arthritis. JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 2343 LP - 2350 VL - 34 IS - 12 AU - Thomas Mittendorf AU - Birgitta Dietz AU - Raimund Sterz AU - Hartmut Kupper AU - Mary A Cifaldi AU - Johann-Matthias von der Schulenburg Y1 - 2007/12/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/34/12/2343.abstract N2 - OBJECTIVE: In patients with longstanding severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving chronic treatment with adalimumab, health related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using new instruments [Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scale (FACIT-Fatigue) and Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3)] and a more conventional instrument [Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36)].METHODS: Different measures for collecting patient-reported outcomes were applied simultaneously during the 3-year study period. Sociodemographic and medical history data were assessed at the baseline visit. Clinical examinations (e.g., joint examination and morning stiffness), disease assessments, and HRQOL data were recorded every 8 weeks. For dichotomous and categorical variables, absolute and relative frequencies were calculated. Metric measures were described using mean and standard deviation and/or standard error of the mean. HRQOL data were analyzed using observed cases. RESULTS: All assessed measures (FACIT-Fatigue, HUI3, SF-36) showed a rapid and statistically significant improvement from baseline following initiation of adalimumab therapy. This effect was maintained over the study period for a mean of 1.6 years in all applied measures. HRQOL data from all tested instruments were significantly correlated with each other. CONCLUSION: Chronic therapy with adalimumab improved measures of fatigue and HRQOL in patients with longstanding RA. ER -