Research ArticleArticle
Open Access
Frequency of Symptomatic Adverse Events in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Exploratory Online Survey
Glen S. Hazlewood, Orit Schieir, Vivian Bykerk, Kamso Mujaab, Peter Tugwell, George Wells, Dawn Richards, Laurie Proulx, Pauline M. Hull and Susan J. Bartlett
The Journal of Rheumatology March 2022, jrheum.210688; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.210688
Glen S. Hazlewood
GSH is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award. This work was supported by a grant from the CIHR (FRN 156267). G.S. Hazlewood, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, and Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; O. Schieir, PhD, Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; V. Bykerk, MD, Professor, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; K. Mujaab, MSc, P.M. Hull, PGCE PGDip (BJTC), Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; P. Tugwell, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; G. Wells, PhD, Professor, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, Ottawa Heart Institute and School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; D. Richards, PhD, L. Proulx, B.Com, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; S.J. Bartlett, PhD, Professor, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Department of Medicine, McGill University, and Research Institute-McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. VB is a consultant for Amgen, BMS, Gilead, Genzyme, Regeneron, and UCB; and has received research funding from Amgen, BMS, Genzyme, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, and UCB. DR is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from NovoNordisk Canada (speaking about arthritis advocacy) and Eli Lilly Canada (speaking about living with RA and participating in an advisory board). LP is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from Eli Lilly Canada (sharing patient perspectives at an event). SJB has received honoria from Organon, Janssen, and Pfizer. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.S. Hazlewood, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Email: gshazlew@ucalgary.ca. Accepted for publication February 9, 2022.
Orit Schieir
GSH is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award. This work was supported by a grant from the CIHR (FRN 156267). G.S. Hazlewood, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, and Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; O. Schieir, PhD, Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; V. Bykerk, MD, Professor, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; K. Mujaab, MSc, P.M. Hull, PGCE PGDip (BJTC), Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; P. Tugwell, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; G. Wells, PhD, Professor, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, Ottawa Heart Institute and School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; D. Richards, PhD, L. Proulx, B.Com, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; S.J. Bartlett, PhD, Professor, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Department of Medicine, McGill University, and Research Institute-McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. VB is a consultant for Amgen, BMS, Gilead, Genzyme, Regeneron, and UCB; and has received research funding from Amgen, BMS, Genzyme, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, and UCB. DR is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from NovoNordisk Canada (speaking about arthritis advocacy) and Eli Lilly Canada (speaking about living with RA and participating in an advisory board). LP is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from Eli Lilly Canada (sharing patient perspectives at an event). SJB has received honoria from Organon, Janssen, and Pfizer. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.S. Hazlewood, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Email: gshazlew@ucalgary.ca. Accepted for publication February 9, 2022.
Vivian Bykerk
GSH is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award. This work was supported by a grant from the CIHR (FRN 156267). G.S. Hazlewood, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, and Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; O. Schieir, PhD, Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; V. Bykerk, MD, Professor, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; K. Mujaab, MSc, P.M. Hull, PGCE PGDip (BJTC), Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; P. Tugwell, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; G. Wells, PhD, Professor, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, Ottawa Heart Institute and School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; D. Richards, PhD, L. Proulx, B.Com, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; S.J. Bartlett, PhD, Professor, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Department of Medicine, McGill University, and Research Institute-McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. VB is a consultant for Amgen, BMS, Gilead, Genzyme, Regeneron, and UCB; and has received research funding from Amgen, BMS, Genzyme, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, and UCB. DR is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from NovoNordisk Canada (speaking about arthritis advocacy) and Eli Lilly Canada (speaking about living with RA and participating in an advisory board). LP is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from Eli Lilly Canada (sharing patient perspectives at an event). SJB has received honoria from Organon, Janssen, and Pfizer. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.S. Hazlewood, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Email: gshazlew@ucalgary.ca. Accepted for publication February 9, 2022.
Kamso Mujaab
GSH is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award. This work was supported by a grant from the CIHR (FRN 156267). G.S. Hazlewood, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, and Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; O. Schieir, PhD, Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; V. Bykerk, MD, Professor, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; K. Mujaab, MSc, P.M. Hull, PGCE PGDip (BJTC), Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; P. Tugwell, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; G. Wells, PhD, Professor, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, Ottawa Heart Institute and School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; D. Richards, PhD, L. Proulx, B.Com, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; S.J. Bartlett, PhD, Professor, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Department of Medicine, McGill University, and Research Institute-McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. VB is a consultant for Amgen, BMS, Gilead, Genzyme, Regeneron, and UCB; and has received research funding from Amgen, BMS, Genzyme, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, and UCB. DR is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from NovoNordisk Canada (speaking about arthritis advocacy) and Eli Lilly Canada (speaking about living with RA and participating in an advisory board). LP is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from Eli Lilly Canada (sharing patient perspectives at an event). SJB has received honoria from Organon, Janssen, and Pfizer. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.S. Hazlewood, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Email: gshazlew@ucalgary.ca. Accepted for publication February 9, 2022.
Peter Tugwell
GSH is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award. This work was supported by a grant from the CIHR (FRN 156267). G.S. Hazlewood, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, and Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; O. Schieir, PhD, Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; V. Bykerk, MD, Professor, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; K. Mujaab, MSc, P.M. Hull, PGCE PGDip (BJTC), Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; P. Tugwell, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; G. Wells, PhD, Professor, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, Ottawa Heart Institute and School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; D. Richards, PhD, L. Proulx, B.Com, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; S.J. Bartlett, PhD, Professor, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Department of Medicine, McGill University, and Research Institute-McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. VB is a consultant for Amgen, BMS, Gilead, Genzyme, Regeneron, and UCB; and has received research funding from Amgen, BMS, Genzyme, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, and UCB. DR is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from NovoNordisk Canada (speaking about arthritis advocacy) and Eli Lilly Canada (speaking about living with RA and participating in an advisory board). LP is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from Eli Lilly Canada (sharing patient perspectives at an event). SJB has received honoria from Organon, Janssen, and Pfizer. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.S. Hazlewood, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Email: gshazlew@ucalgary.ca. Accepted for publication February 9, 2022.
George Wells
GSH is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award. This work was supported by a grant from the CIHR (FRN 156267). G.S. Hazlewood, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, and Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; O. Schieir, PhD, Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; V. Bykerk, MD, Professor, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; K. Mujaab, MSc, P.M. Hull, PGCE PGDip (BJTC), Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; P. Tugwell, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; G. Wells, PhD, Professor, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, Ottawa Heart Institute and School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; D. Richards, PhD, L. Proulx, B.Com, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; S.J. Bartlett, PhD, Professor, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Department of Medicine, McGill University, and Research Institute-McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. VB is a consultant for Amgen, BMS, Gilead, Genzyme, Regeneron, and UCB; and has received research funding from Amgen, BMS, Genzyme, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, and UCB. DR is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from NovoNordisk Canada (speaking about arthritis advocacy) and Eli Lilly Canada (speaking about living with RA and participating in an advisory board). LP is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from Eli Lilly Canada (sharing patient perspectives at an event). SJB has received honoria from Organon, Janssen, and Pfizer. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.S. Hazlewood, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Email: gshazlew@ucalgary.ca. Accepted for publication February 9, 2022.
Dawn Richards
GSH is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award. This work was supported by a grant from the CIHR (FRN 156267). G.S. Hazlewood, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, and Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; O. Schieir, PhD, Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; V. Bykerk, MD, Professor, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; K. Mujaab, MSc, P.M. Hull, PGCE PGDip (BJTC), Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; P. Tugwell, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; G. Wells, PhD, Professor, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, Ottawa Heart Institute and School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; D. Richards, PhD, L. Proulx, B.Com, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; S.J. Bartlett, PhD, Professor, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Department of Medicine, McGill University, and Research Institute-McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. VB is a consultant for Amgen, BMS, Gilead, Genzyme, Regeneron, and UCB; and has received research funding from Amgen, BMS, Genzyme, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, and UCB. DR is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from NovoNordisk Canada (speaking about arthritis advocacy) and Eli Lilly Canada (speaking about living with RA and participating in an advisory board). LP is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from Eli Lilly Canada (sharing patient perspectives at an event). SJB has received honoria from Organon, Janssen, and Pfizer. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.S. Hazlewood, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Email: gshazlew@ucalgary.ca. Accepted for publication February 9, 2022.
Laurie Proulx
GSH is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award. This work was supported by a grant from the CIHR (FRN 156267). G.S. Hazlewood, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, and Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; O. Schieir, PhD, Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; V. Bykerk, MD, Professor, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; K. Mujaab, MSc, P.M. Hull, PGCE PGDip (BJTC), Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; P. Tugwell, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; G. Wells, PhD, Professor, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, Ottawa Heart Institute and School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; D. Richards, PhD, L. Proulx, B.Com, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; S.J. Bartlett, PhD, Professor, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Department of Medicine, McGill University, and Research Institute-McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. VB is a consultant for Amgen, BMS, Gilead, Genzyme, Regeneron, and UCB; and has received research funding from Amgen, BMS, Genzyme, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, and UCB. DR is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from NovoNordisk Canada (speaking about arthritis advocacy) and Eli Lilly Canada (speaking about living with RA and participating in an advisory board). LP is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from Eli Lilly Canada (sharing patient perspectives at an event). SJB has received honoria from Organon, Janssen, and Pfizer. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.S. Hazlewood, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Email: gshazlew@ucalgary.ca. Accepted for publication February 9, 2022.
Pauline M. Hull
GSH is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award. This work was supported by a grant from the CIHR (FRN 156267). G.S. Hazlewood, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, and Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; O. Schieir, PhD, Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; V. Bykerk, MD, Professor, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; K. Mujaab, MSc, P.M. Hull, PGCE PGDip (BJTC), Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; P. Tugwell, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; G. Wells, PhD, Professor, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, Ottawa Heart Institute and School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; D. Richards, PhD, L. Proulx, B.Com, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; S.J. Bartlett, PhD, Professor, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Department of Medicine, McGill University, and Research Institute-McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. VB is a consultant for Amgen, BMS, Gilead, Genzyme, Regeneron, and UCB; and has received research funding from Amgen, BMS, Genzyme, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, and UCB. DR is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from NovoNordisk Canada (speaking about arthritis advocacy) and Eli Lilly Canada (speaking about living with RA and participating in an advisory board). LP is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from Eli Lilly Canada (sharing patient perspectives at an event). SJB has received honoria from Organon, Janssen, and Pfizer. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.S. Hazlewood, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Email: gshazlew@ucalgary.ca. Accepted for publication February 9, 2022.
Susan J. Bartlett
GSH is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award. This work was supported by a grant from the CIHR (FRN 156267). G.S. Hazlewood, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, and Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, and Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada; O. Schieir, PhD, Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; V. Bykerk, MD, Professor, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; K. Mujaab, MSc, P.M. Hull, PGCE PGDip (BJTC), Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; P. Tugwell, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; G. Wells, PhD, Professor, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, Ottawa Heart Institute and School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; D. Richards, PhD, L. Proulx, B.Com, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; S.J. Bartlett, PhD, Professor, Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, British Columbia, Department of Medicine, McGill University, and Research Institute-McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. VB is a consultant for Amgen, BMS, Gilead, Genzyme, Regeneron, and UCB; and has received research funding from Amgen, BMS, Genzyme, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, and UCB. DR is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from NovoNordisk Canada (speaking about arthritis advocacy) and Eli Lilly Canada (speaking about living with RA and participating in an advisory board). LP is the Volunteer Vice President of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, an organization that receives the majority of its funding from independent grants from pharma companies; and has received consulting fees from Eli Lilly Canada (sharing patient perspectives at an event). SJB has received honoria from Organon, Janssen, and Pfizer. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Address correspondence to Dr. G.S. Hazlewood, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada. Email: gshazlew@ucalgary.ca. Accepted for publication February 9, 2022.
Abstract
Objective To generate initial data on the frequency and effect of symptomatic adverse events (AEs) associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug therapy from the patient perspective.
Methods We conducted an exploratory online survey asking patients with RA to indicate whether they currently or had ever experienced the 80 different symptomatic AEs included in the Patient-Reported Outcomes of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE). Results were summarized to report their frequency, and regression models were used to estimate their associations with RA medication use and overall bother.
Results The 560 patients who completed the survey and reported taking ≥ 1 RA medication (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs [DMARDs], steroids, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]), had a mean disease duration of 8 years, and were on a wide range of DMARDs. The number of symptomatic AEs experienced in the past 7 days was none (6%), 1–10 (28%), 11–20 (28%), and > 20 (38%). Overall, most participants reported that side effects bothered them somewhat (28%), quite a bit (24%), or very much (15%). In multivariable regression analyses, current prednisone and NSAID use were associated with the greatest number of current side effects (26 and 22, respectively). Many of the strongest associations between current symptomatic AEs and medication use aligned with known side effect profiles.
Conclusion In this exploratory online survey, patients with RA reported frequent symptomatic AEs with their medications that are bothersome. Further work is needed to develop and validate a measure for use in patients with rheumatic disease.
In this issue
The Journal of Rheumatology
Vol. 49, Issue 5
1 May 2022
Frequency of Symptomatic Adverse Events in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Exploratory Online Survey
Glen S. Hazlewood, Orit Schieir, Vivian Bykerk, Kamso Mujaab, Peter Tugwell, George Wells, Dawn Richards, Laurie Proulx, Pauline M. Hull, Susan J. Bartlett
The Journal of Rheumatology Mar 2022, jrheum.210688; DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.210688
Frequency of Symptomatic Adverse Events in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Exploratory Online Survey
Glen S. Hazlewood, Orit Schieir, Vivian Bykerk, Kamso Mujaab, Peter Tugwell, George Wells, Dawn Richards, Laurie Proulx, Pauline M. Hull, Susan J. Bartlett
The Journal of Rheumatology Mar 2022, jrheum.210688; DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.210688
