November 2023

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Other Musculoskeletal Disorders, 1990–2020, and Projections to 2050: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Lancet Rheumatol 2023;5:e670–82 doi 10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00232-1

As part of the GBD 2021, the authors provide updated estimates for the global burden of musculoskeletal disorders, excluding RA, osteoarthritis, low back pain, neck pain, and gout. In 2020, the total years lived with disability globally was estimated to be 42.7 million, which was a 122% increase from 1990. Over the same time period, mortality increased by 199%. The study forecasts an increase in cases by 2050 in all regions, with the exception of Central Europe.

Keywords:

October 2023

Anti-gm-csf Otilimab versus Sarilumab or Placebo in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inadequate Response to Targeted Therapies: A Phase III Randomised Trial (contRAst 3)

Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82(12):1527–1537 doi 10.1136/ard-2023-224449

The ContRAst 3 study investigated otilimab, in RA patients with inadequate responses to multiple treatments. Otilimab did not significantly improve ACR20 versus placebo at Weeks 12 or 24. In addition, there we no significant improvements in secondary endpoints, including disease activity, disability, and pain.

Keywords:

A Real-World Effectiveness Study Using a Mobile Application to Evaluate Early Outcomes with Upadacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatol Ther. 2023;10(6):1519–1533 doi 10.1007/s40744-023-00594-6

This study by Harrold, et al. showed that RA patients initiating upadacitinib reported improvements in RAPID3, pain, stiffness, and fatigue as early as Week 1, with 37.5% achieving RAPID3 LDA at Week 12. TNFi-experienced patients had similar outcomes.

Keywords: