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Cluster analysis identifies the differential impact of disease activity and severity on functional status and patient satisfaction in rheumatoid arthritis: the FRANK registry

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

 

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. akasaki.yukio.443@m.kyushu-u.ac.jp
  2. Department of Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
  3. Kondo Clinic of Rheumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukuoka, Japan.
  4. Department of Orthopedics Surgery and Rheumatology, NHO Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
  5. Department of Orthopedics Surgery and Rheumatology, NHO Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
  6. Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, NHO Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
  7. Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, NHO Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
  8. Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, NHO Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
  9. Department of Rheumatology, Japanese Red Cross Fukuoka Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
  10. PS Clinic, Fukuoka, Japan.
  11. Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Chiyoda Hospital, Miyazaki, Japan.
  12. Department of Rheumatology, Hamanomachi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
  13. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chihaya Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
  14. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Yamaguchi Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan.
  15. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Yamaguchi Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan.
  16. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
  17. Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
  18. Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
  19. Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
  20. Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
  21. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
  22. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
  23. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
  24. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
  25. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
  26. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
  27. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
  28. Department of Medical Education, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
  29. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.

CER17924
2025 Vol.43, N°5
PI 0861, PF 0866
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PMID: 39808284 [PubMed]

Received: 16/06/2024
Accepted : 04/12/2024
In Press: 14/01/2025
Published: 08/05/2025

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the differential impact of disease activity and severity on functional status and patient satisfaction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using cluster analysis on data from the FRANK registry.
METHODS:
Data from 3,619 RA patients in the FRANK registry were analysed. Patients were grouped using hierarchical and k-means cluster analyses based on age, physician’s global assessment (PhGA), patient’s pain assessment (PtPA), and Steinbrocker stage. Clusters were evaluated for differences in functional status (mHAQ), quality of life (EQ5D), and patient satisfaction.
RESULTS:
Five distinct patient clusters were identified. In hierarchical cluster analysis, Cluster 1 (n=1195, 33.0%) and 2 (n=641, 17.7%) with lower disease activity and severity demonstrated better functional outcomes (mHAQ: 0.18±0.30 and 0.15±0.26, respectively) and higher satisfaction, with treatment efficacy scores of 1.9±0.7 and 2.0±0.7, respectively (1: very satisfied to 6: very unsatisfied). Cluster 3 (n=1117, 30.9%), characterised by less activity and more severity, showed significant joint damage (Steinbrocker stage III-IV: 95.4%) despite controlled inflammation. Cluster 4 (n=385, 10.6%), characterised by patient-physician discordance in disease activity (mean PhGA: 0.9±0.5; mean PtPA: 5.0±2.1), had a more pronounced negative effect on satisfaction. Cluster 5 (n=281, 7.8%), with more activity and moderate severity, had the poorest outcomes in functional status (mHAQ: 0.87±0.65), quality of life (EQ5D: 0.60±0.17), and satisfaction, with a treatment efficacy score of 2.9±0.9. k-Means clustering produced overall similar clusters to hierarchical clustering, allowing the same labels for Cluster 1 to Cluster 5.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the heterogeneous nature of RA and its impact on patient outcomes. Personalised treatment approaches that address both objective disease measures and subjective patient experiences are essential for optimising RA management. Identification of distinct patient phenotypes, particularly those in Clusters 3, 4, and 5, may guide tailored interventions to improve treatment satisfaction and long-term outcomes in RA.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55563/clinexprheumatol/7emd6z

Rheumatology Article