A Post-Marketing-Observational Study (PMOS) to Determine the Effectiveness of Combined Adalimumab Treatment and Active Supervised Training in Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) (Treat & Train)

Treat and Train - A Post-Marketing-Observational Study (PMOS) to Determine the Effectiveness of Combined Adalimumab Treatment and Active Supervised Training in Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis

This study is a non-interventional, longitudinal and non-confirmatory study to compare an active supervised training (AST) with standard of care (SOC) physiotherapy in patients with axial spondyloarthritis and stable response to adalimumab (HUMIRA®) with respect to health-related outcomes. The primary objective is the improvement in spinal mobility after a 6 month training program.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Axial Spondyloarthritis
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Active Supervised Training (AST); Behavioral: Standard of Care (SOC) Physiotherapy

Detailed Description

Treatment of axSpA patients with adalimumab (HUMIRA®) was according to the local adalimumab product label and local standard of care. AxSpA patients who responded to newly initialized adalimumab treatment based on physicians' decision, and who were eligible for active physiotherapy were enrolled in the study. Although this was a non-interventional study, participants were randomly assigned to receive either active supervised and standardized training physiotherapy or standard of care physiotherapy in order to provide adequate numbers of participants in each comparison group.

Participants who consented to participate in the study were observed for up to 12 months from Baseline (defined as the Randomization visit where participants were assigned to one of the two physiotherapy options).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 17

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Berlin, Germany, 10787
    • MVZ Wittenbergplatz PP Orthos /ID# 204802
  • Halle, Germany, 06128
    • Rheumapraxis /ID# 164461
  • Hamburg, Germany, 22415
    • Praxis Ortho DE /ID# 204149
  • Leipzig, Germany, 04129
    • Praxis internistische Rheumato /ID# 164463
  • Wuppertal, Germany, 42105
    • Krankenhaus St. Josef /ID# 164501
  • Brandenburg
    • Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany, 14467
      • Rheumahaus Studien GbR, Potsdam, DE /ID# 164494

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 99 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants with axial spondyloarthritis who received Humira® per local product label at rheumatology centers in Germany.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) (either ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)), fulfilling the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) classification, aged at least 18 years
• Prescription of Humira® (adalimumab) for treating axSpA according to the local product label
• Eligibility for active physiotherapy according to the rheumatologist and physiotherapist
• Participants must have signed written informed consent before starting any study related assessments or procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with total spinal ankylosis based on the investigators' assessments of available radiographs
• Participants who are not eligible for active supervised training or active physiotherapy at the discretion of the rheumatologist and/or the physiotherapist
• Participants with poorly controlled medical condition(s), which in the opinion of the investigator, would put the participant at risk by participation in the protocol
• Any prior treatment with a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) is prohibited.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Active Supervised Training (AST); Participants with axSpA and treated with adalimumab (HUMIRA®) according to the local product label and local standard of care were to receive active supervised and standardized training (AST).	Behavioral: Active Supervised Training (AST); The active supervised and standardized training consisted of 24 units of exercise within 20 weeks performed in certified training centers and was focused on back fitness, core strengthening and patient engagement to treat back pain and functional impairment.
Standard of Care (SOC) Physiotherapy; Participants with axSpA and treated with adalimumab (HUMIRA®) according to the local product label and local standard of care were to receive standard of care physiotherapy, according to the physiotherapist discretion.	Behavioral: Standard of Care (SOC) Physiotherapy; Standard of care physiotherapy as used in this study included active as well as passive training and massages according to the physiotherapist discretion.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change Form Baseline in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) at Month 6	BASMI measures the range of motion based on five clinical measurements: 1) cervical rotation, 2) tragus to wall distance, 3) lumbar side flexion, 4) lumbar flexion (modified Schober's) and 5) intermalleolar distance. The total BASMI score ranges from 0 to 10 reflecting mild to moderate disease activity and functional ability in the spinal column. The higher the BASMI score the more severe the patient's limitation of movement due to their ankylosing spondylitis	Baseline and Month 6

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change Form Baseline in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) at Month 3	BASMI measures the range of motion based on five clinical measurements: 1) cervical rotation, 2) tragus to wall distance, 3) lumbar side flexion, 4) lumbar flexion (modified Schober's) and 5) intermalleolar distance. The total BASMI score ranges from 0 to 10 reflecting mild to moderate disease activity and functional ability in the spinal column. The higher the BASMI score the more severe the patient's limitation of movement due to their ankylosing spondylitis.	Baseline and Month 3
Change From Baseline in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)	The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) is a validated index to determine the degree of functional limitation in patients with AS. BASFI consists of 10 questions assessing participants' ability to perform activities, each on a numeric rating scale (NRS) ranging from 0 (easy to perform an activity) to 10 (impossible to perform an activity). The overall score is the mean of the 10 items and ranges from 0 to 10 with higher score indicating more limitations.	Baseline and Month 3
Change From Baseline in Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) Health Index (HI)	The ASAS HI measures functioning and health across 17 aspects of health in patients with AS, including pain, emotional functions, sleep, sexual function, mobility, self care, and community life. The ASAS HI consists of 17 questions, each answered by the participant as agree (1) or disagree (0). The responses to the 17 dichotomous items are summed up to give a total score ranging from 0 to 17, with a lower score indicating a better and a higher score indicating an inferior health status.	Baseline and Month 3
Change From Baseline in the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI)	The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) assesses disease activity by asking the participant to answer 6 questions (each on an 11 point numeric rating scale [NRS]) pertaining to symptoms experienced for the past week. For 5 questions (level of fatigue/tiredness, level of AS neck, back or hip pain, level of pain/swelling in joints, other than neck, back or hips, level of discomfort from any areas tender to touch or pressure, and level of morning stiffness), the response is from 0 (none) to 10 (very severe); for Question 6 (duration of morning stiffness), the response is from 0 (0 hours) to 10 (≥ 2 hours). The overall BASDAI score ranges from 0 to 10 where lower scores indicate less disease activity.	Baseline and Month 3
Percentage of Participants Achieving a BASDAI 50 Response	The BASDAI assesses disease activity by asking the participant to answer 6 questions (each on an 11 point numeric rating scale [NRS]) pertaining to symptoms experienced for the past week. For 5 questions (level of fatigue/tiredness, level of AS neck, back or hip pain, level of pain/swelling in joints, other than neck, back or hips, level of discomfort from any areas tender to touch or pressure, and level of morning stiffness), the response is from 0 (none) to 10 (very severe); for Question 6 (duration of morning stiffness), the response is from 0 (0 hours) to 10 (≥ 2 hours). The overall BASDAI score ranges from 0 to 10. Lower scores indicate less disease activity. A BASDAI 50 response is defined as improvement of 50% or more from baseline in BASDAI score.	Month 3
Change From Baseline in Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)	ASDAS is a composite disease activity outcome measure which combines patient reported back pain, duration of morning stiffness, patient global assessment of disease activity, patient assessment of peripheral joint pain and swelling and an acute phase reactant (C-reactive protein [CRP]) as an objective measure of inflammation. The overall score ranges from 0 with no defined upper score; published ranges for disease activity states as defined by the ASDAS are: < 1.3 for "inactive disease"; ≥ 1.3 to < 2.1 for "moderate disease activity"; ≥ 2.1 to ≤ 3.5 for "high disease activity" and ≥ 3.5 for "very high disease activity."	Baseline and Month 3
Percentage of Participants With ASDAS Inactive Disease	ASDAS is a composite disease activity outcome measure which combines patient reported back pain, duration of morning stiffness, patient global assessment of disease activity, patient assessment of peripheral joint pain and swelling and an acute phase reactant (CRP) as an objective measure of inflammation. The overall score ranges from 0 with no defined upper score; published ranges for disease activity states as defined by the ASDAS are: < 1.3 for "inactive disease"; ≥ 1.3 to < 2.1 for "moderate disease activity"; ≥ 2.1 to ≤ 3.5 for "high disease activity" and ≥ 3.5 for "very high disease activity." The percentage of participants with ASDAS inactive disease, defined as ASDAS < 1.3, is reported.	Month 3
Percentage of Participants With ASDAS Low Disease Activity	ASDAS is a composite disease activity outcome measure which combines patient reported back pain, duration of morning stiffness, patient global assessment of disease activity, patient assessment of peripheral joint pain and swelling and an acute phase reactant (CRP) as an objective measure of inflammation. The overall score ranges from 0 with no defined upper score; published ranges for disease activity states as defined by the ASDAS are: < 1.3 for "inactive disease"; ≥ 1.3 to < 2.1 for "moderate disease activity"; ≥ 2.1 to ≤ 3.5 for "high disease activity" and ≥ 3.5 for "very high disease activity." The percentage of participants with ASDAS low disease activity, defined as ASDAS < 2.1, is reported.	Month 3
Percentage of Participants With ASDAS Moderate Disease Activity	ASDAS is a composite disease activity outcome measure which combines patient reported back pain, duration of morning stiffness, patient global assessment of disease activity, patient assessment of peripheral joint pain and swelling and an acute phase reactant (CRP) as an objective measure of inflammation. The overall score ranges from 0 with no defined upper score; published ranges for disease activity states as defined by the ASDAS are: < 1.3 for "inactive disease"; ≥ 1.3 to < 2.1 for "moderate disease activity"; ≥ 2.1 to ≤ 3.5 for "high disease activity" and ≥ 3.5 for "very high disease activity." The percentage of participants with ASDAS moderate disease activity, defined as an ASDAS ≥ 1.3 to < 2.1, is reported.	Month 3
Percentage of Participants With ASDAS High Disease Activity	ASDAS is a composite disease activity outcome measure which combines patient reported back pain, duration of morning stiffness, patient global assessment of disease activity, patient assessment of peripheral joint pain and swelling and an acute phase reactant (CRP) as an objective measure of inflammation. The overall score ranges from 0 with no defined upper score; published ranges for disease activity states as defined by the ASDAS are: < 1.3 for "inactive disease"; ≥ 1.3 to < 2.1 for "moderate disease activity"; ≥ 2.1 to ≤ 3.5 for "high disease activity" and ≥ 3.5 for "very high disease activity." The percentage of participants with high disease activity, defined as an ASDAS ≥ 2.1 to < 3.5, is reported.	Month 3
Percentage of Participants With ASDAS Very High Disease Activity	ASDAS is a composite disease activity outcome measure which combines patient reported back pain, duration of morning stiffness, patient global assessment of disease activity, patient assessment of peripheral joint pain and swelling and an acute phase reactant (CRP) as an objective measure of inflammation. The overall score ranges from 0 with no defined upper score; published ranges for disease activity states as defined by the ASDAS are: < 1.3 for "inactive disease"; ≥ 1.3 to < 2.1 for "moderate disease activity"; ≥ 2.1 to ≤ 3.5 for "high disease activity" and ≥ 3.5 for "very high disease activity." The percentage of participants with very high disease activity, defined as an ASDAS ≥ 3.5, is reported.	Month 3
Percentage of Participants Achieving ASDAS Major Improvement	ASDAS Major Improvement is defined as a change from Baseline ≥ 2.0. ASDAS is a composite disease activity outcome measure which combines patient reported back pain, duration of morning stiffness, patient global assessment of disease activity, patient assessment of peripheral joint pain and swelling and an acute phase reactant (CRP) as an objective measure of inflammation. The overall score ranges from 0 with no defined upper score; published ranges for disease activity states as defined by the ASDAS are: < 1.3 for "inactive disease"; ≥ 1.3 to < 2.1 for "moderate disease activity"; ≥ 2.1 to ≤ 3.5 for "high disease activity" and ≥ 3.5 for "very high disease activity."	Baseline and Month 3
Percentage of Participants Achieving ASDAS Clinically Important Improvement	ASDAS clinically important improvement is defined as a change from Baseline ≥ 1.1. ASDAS is a composite disease activity outcome measure which combines patient reported back pain, duration of morning stiffness, patient global assessment of disease activity, patient assessment of peripheral joint pain and swelling and an acute phase reactant (CRP) as an objective measure of inflammation. The overall score ranges from 0 with no defined upper score; published ranges for disease activity states as defined by the ASDAS are: < 1.3 for "inactive disease"; ≥ 1.3 to < 2.1 for "moderate disease activity"; ≥ 2.1 to ≤ 3.5 for "high disease activity" and ≥ 3.5 for "very high disease activity."	Baseline and Month 3
Percentage of Participants Achieving an Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) 20 Response	ASAS20 response was defined as improvement of ≥ 20% relative to Baseline and absolute improvement of ≥ 1 unit (on a scale from 0 to 10) in ≥ 3 of the following 4 domains with no deterioration (defined as a worsening of ≥ 20% and a net worsening of ≥ 1 unit) in the potential remaining domain: Patient's global assessment of disease activity, measured on a numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 (none) to 10 (severe);; Pain, measured by the total back pain NRS from 0 (no pain) to 10 (most severe);; Function, measured by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) which consists of 10 items assessing participants' ability to perform activities on an NRS ranging from 0 (easy) to 10 (impossible);; Inflammation, measured by the mean of the 2 morning stiffness-related Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) NRS scores (items 5 [level of stiffness] and 6 [duration of stiffness]) each on a scale from 0 (none/0 hours) to 10 (very severe/2 hours or more duration).	Baseline and Month 3
Percentage of Participants Achieving an ASAS 40 Response	ASAS40 response was defined as improvement of ≥ 40% relative to baseline and absolute improvement of ≥ 2 units (on a scale from 0 to 10) in ≥ 3 of the following 4 domains with no deterioration in the potential remaining domain: Patient's global assessment of disease activity, measured on a numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 (none) to 10 (severe);; Pain, measured by the total back pain NRS from 0 (no pain) to 10 (most severe);; Function, measured by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) which consists of 10 items assessing participants' ability to perform activities on an NRS ranging from 0 (easy) to 10 (impossible);; Inflammation, measured by the mean of the 2 morning stiffness-related Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) NRS scores (items 5 [level of stiffness] and 6 [duration of stiffness]) each on a scale from 0 (none/0 hours) to 10 (very severe/2 hours or more duration).	Baseline and Month 3
Percentage of Participants Achieving ASAS Partial Remission	ASAS partial remission is defined as an absolute score of ≤ 2 units on a 0 to 10 scale for each of the four following domains: Patient's global assessment of disease activity, measured on a numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 (none) to 10 (severe);; Pain, measured by the total back pain NRS from 0 (no pain) to 10 (most severe);; Function, measured by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) which consists of 10 items assessing participants' ability to perform activities on an NRS ranging from 0 (easy) to 10 (impossible);; Inflammation, measured by the mean of the 2 morning stiffness-related Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) NRS scores (items 5 [level of stiffness] and 6 [duration of stiffness]) each on a scale from 0 (none/0 hours) to 10 (very severe/2 hours or more duration).	Month 3
Change From Baseline in Patient's Global Assessment of Pain	The patient's global assessment of pain was assessed on a NRS from 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain as bad as it could be).	Baseline and Month 3
Change From Baseline in Patient's Assessment of Total Back Pain	The patient's assessment of total back pain was assessed on a NRS from 0 (no pain) to 10 (most severe pain).	Baseline and Month 3
Change From Baseline in Patient's Assessment of Nocturnal Back Pain	The patient's assessment of nocturnal back pain was assessed on a NRS from 0 (no pain) to 10 (most severe pain).	Baseline and Month 3
Change From Baseline in Modified Work Ability Index (WAI)	This is used to assess participant's work ability.	Baseline and Month 3
Change From Baseline in Fatigue	Fatigue was assessed as Question 1 of the BASDAI, on a NRS from 0 (none) to 10 (very severe).	Baseline and Month 3
Change From Baseline in Severity and Duration of Morning Stiffness	Morning stiffness was measured as the mean of the 2 morning stiffness-related BASDAI NRS scores: Question 5: Level of morning stiffness assessed by the patient on a scale from 0 (none) to 10 (very severe), and Question 6: Duration of morning stiffness assessed by the patient on a scale from 0 (0 hours) to 10 (2 hours or more duration).	Baseline and Month 3
Change From Baseline in Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire Score (FABQ)	The FABQ measures patients' fear of pain and consequent avoidance of physical activity because of their fear. The questionnaire consists of 16 items in which a patient rates their agreement with each statement on a 7-point Likert scale, where 0 = completely disagree, 6 = completely agree. There is a maximum score of 96. A higher score indicates more strongly held fear avoidance beliefs.	Baseline and Month 3

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: AbbVie

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Related Info

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): December 8, 2017
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): September 14, 2018
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): September 14, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 21, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 21, 2017
• First Posted (ACTUAL): August 23, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): October 2, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 9, 2019
• Last Verified: August 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pain; physiotherapy; adalimumab; physical function; health-related quality of life; disease activity; physical training; axial spondyloarthritis; active supervised training; spinal mobility; psychosocial risk factors; workability; Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI)
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Arthritis; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Bone Diseases, Infectious; Spondylitis; Spondylarthritis
• Other Study ID Numbers: P15-710

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No