Key clinical point: Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) significantly improved the quality of life (QoL) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared with placebo.
Major finding: The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (mean difference [MD] −0.21), Dermatology Life Quality Index (MD −4.36), and Short Form 36 Questionnaire physical (MD 3.76) and mental (MD 1.76; all P < .00001) component summaries improved significantly with bDMARD vs placebo. However, bDMARD showed no significant advantage or disadvantage over methotrexate or tofacitinib.
Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled trials including 14,115 patients with PsA who received non-bDMARD, placebo, or bDMARD alone or in combination with non-bDMARD.
Disclosures: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Lu Y et al. Effects of bDMARDs on quality of life in patients with psoriatic arthritis: Meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e058497 (Apr 12). Doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058497