Background: The therapeutic goal for all patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is to achieve remission. However, patients in remission may still require symptomatic treatments.

Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the use of symptomatic treatments in RA patients in remission and to identify the factors that influence it.

Methods: Monocentric cross-sectional study of patients with RA in remission (DAS28 CRP<2.6).

Socio-demographic data and clinicobiological characteristics of the disease were collected. Disease activity was assessed by the DAS28 score (CRP). The use of symptomatic treatments was recorded: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), paracetamol, and corticosteroids.

Results: Sixty-two patients, predominantly women (88.7%), were included in the study, with a mean age of 59.21 ± 25.7 years. Twenty-four patients had a secondary education level, 22 had a primary education level, and 16 patients were illiterate. Forty-two patients had health insurance (67.7%). The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 49.4 years [19-79].

The mean disease duration was 11.11 ± 7.4 years. Patients had been in remission for an average of 2.44 ± 2.55 years. Remission was achieved after a mean of 8.6 ± 6.9 years from the onset of the disease. The mean DAS28 (CRP) was 2.02 ± 0.47.

At the time of the study, patients were receiving the following treatments: methotrexate: n=58, sulfasalazine n=7, hydroxychloroquine n=7, Leflunomide: n=2, Etanercept: n=2, Tociluzimab: n=2, Infliximab: n=1, pegylated certoluzimab: n=1, golimumab: n=1.

Regarding the use of symptomatic treatments,72.6% of patients used paracetamol, 27.4% NSAIDs and 45.2% corticosteroids, with an average dose of 2.3±4 mg daily.

We showed that there was no significant association between the use of symptomatic treatments and age, gender, marital status, living environment, education level, health insurance, duration of the disease or remission, nocturnal awakening, morning stiffness, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and DAS 28 (CRP).

Conclusion: Despite clinical remission, our patients did not stop using symptomatic treatments. This may be suggestive of persistent pain due to several underlying mechanisms.

REFERENCES: NIL.

Acknowledgements: NIL.

Disclosure of Interests: None declared.