%0 Journal Article
%T Unveiling the arthritis divide: Exploring treatment response and impact in late-onset vs. young-onset rheumatoid arthritis.
%A Hao N
%A Ishikawa H
%A Abe A
%A Sudo M
%A Takamura S
%A Otani H
%A Ito S
%A Nakazono K
%A Murasawa A
%J Mod Rheumatol
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Aug 8
%M 39116021
%F 2.862
%R 10.1093/mr/roae069
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Impact of osteoarthritis (OA) on the initial treatment response of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by treat to target (T2T) practice was compared between the patients with an onset age ≥65 years old (late-onset RA [LORA]) and those with an onset age <65 years old (young-onset RA [YORA]).<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A retrospective study was conducted on the patients with RA, who were referred to our clinic without treatment between January 2021 and July 2022. Patients with grade ≥3 OA according to the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) classification either in the knee or hand were classified in the OA(+) group and others were in the OA(-) group. The clinical data were compared at the diagnosis and one year after the initial treatment between the groups for 74 LORA and 59 YORA patients, respectively.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>One year after starting treatment in the LORA patients, the OA(+) group had poorer disease activity control and greater disability in the several activities of daily living (ADL) than the OA(-) group. In the YORA patients, there were no differences in ADL disability between the groups.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>In the initial treatment of the LORA patients, the prevalence of OA was high, and impact of OA on LORA was larger than on YORA.