Shaheed CA et al. JAMA Intern Med 2016; 176: 958–968. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.1251

The researchers did find, however, that patients’ satisfaction was greater with risk-stratification and there was some benefit on clinical decision-making, with “greater provision of written information and prescribing of simple over-the-counter analgesics.”

However, there was no significant difference in pain between the two groups at 6 months nor were there differences in other secondary outcomes, such as change in Cochin Hand Function Scale score and patient global assessment, OARSI-OMERACT response, and the use of analgesics or NSAIDs, at 3 or 6 months.

A monthly selection of topical peer-reviewed articles from the Adis journals, curated by the editors.

How can rheumatologists respond to the challenges associated with rituximab use during the pandemic?

3–9 November: Keep up with the latest news and interviews from the conference.

Perspective on the approval of anifrolumab and the importance of endpoints in lupus trials.

5 – 9 November: Preview the conference with session recommendations and updates on upcoming coverage.

How will the FAST trial results impact regulatory guidance & clinical practice?

For the current safety study, patients with WOMAC Pain and Physical Function scores of 5 or more, a fair, poor, or very poor patient’s global assessment of OA (PGA‐OA), a history of inadequate pain relief with standard analgesics, and no history of other bone or joint conditions were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous tanezumab 2.5 mg (n=1002) or 5.0 mg (n=998) every 8 weeks or to twice‐daily oral naproxen, celecoxib, or diclofenac (n=996), each for 56 weeks followed by a 24-week post‐treatment follow‐up period.

Among patients with osteoarthritis, the risk for COVID-19 is not increased with the use of NSAIDs versus comparator analgesics, study findings indicate.

Among patients with osteoarthritis, the risk for COVID-19 is not increased with the use of NSAIDs versus comparator analgesics, study findings indicate.

Experts discuss the increasing use of telemedicine in rheumatology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jean-Pierre Pelletier (University of Montréal Hospital Research Centre, Québec, Canada) and co-authors explain that although COX-2 inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and analgesics such as acetaminophen “are popular for acute flare-ups of the disease, their use for an extended period could lead to significant adverse events (AEs) such as cardiovascular diseases, renal and liver toxicity.”

Findings from a phase III trial conducted in the USA suggest that tanezumab improves pain and physical function scores relative to placebo among patients with moderate-to-severe hip or knee osteoarthritis and an inadequate response to analgesics.

“Some of them are being confronted with the decision to try narcotic analgesics, so it’s a difficult clinical situation and patients and clinicians want other options.”

The anti‐nerve growth factor monoclonal antibody fasinumab improves pain and function in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis who have a history of inadequate response or intolerance to analgesics, study findings indicate.

Sharon Kolasinski talks about what’s new in the latest ACR–Arthritis Foundation recommendations for the management of osteoarthritis, and highlights the key take-home messages for healthcare providers.

To address this, they created the SAMBA model with the intention of improving “the quality of OA care through delivery of evidence-based recommendations for OA care, focusing on the core treatments, first-line analgesics, and facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration.”