Rheumatology Research Unit, Department of Rheumatology, Odense University Hospital, 5000, Odense, Denmark.
Department of Gynecology, University of Southern Denmark, 5000, Odense, Denmark.
Rheumatol Int. 2024 May;44(5):919-931. doi: 10.1007/s00296-024-05555-y. Epub 2024 Mar 14.
There is a lack of knowledge regarding methotrexate (MTX) usage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its possible links with gender, disease characterization and sexual functioning, loneliness, fatigue and depression. We, therefore, investigated the associations of gender with physical function, fatigue, depression, loneliness and sexual functioning with a particular focus on MTX usage. A cross-sectional study design was used. Inclusion criteria were RA diagnosis, age above 18 years and available data on MTX treatment 1 year after diagnosis. Data consisted of responses from validated questionnaires regarding physical function, fatigue, depression, loneliness and sexual functioning combined with evaluations from medical records. Data were analysed with linear regression models comparing numerical outcome measures between male and female patients and between MTX users and MTX non-users. Amongst 286 patients with RA (69 men and 217 women), 67.8% were MTX users 1 year after diagnosis. Comparing women and men, both overall and within subgroups of MTX usage, we found significantly more adverse outcomes for women than men in physical functioning at diagnosis and in sexual function, depression, fatigue and physical functioning at enrolment in the study. Gender differences were also present when comparing MTX users with MTX non-users divided by gender. There were only significant differences in the HAQ and loneliness scores when comparing MTX users with MTX non-users. Women with RA had more negative outcomes measured by the selected PROMs compared to men with RA, both overall and in subgroups of users and non-users of MTX. These findings call for sharpened attention to the importance of gender in the treatment and care of patients with RA, as well as in future clinical research.
对于类风湿关节炎(RA)患者中甲氨蝶呤(MTX)的使用及其与性别、疾病特征和性功能、孤独感、疲劳和抑郁的可能联系,人们知之甚少。因此,我们研究了性别与身体功能、疲劳、抑郁、孤独感和性功能之间的关联,特别关注 MTX 的使用。采用横断面研究设计。纳入标准为 RA 诊断、年龄大于 18 岁以及诊断后 1 年内有 MTX 治疗数据。数据包括来自身体功能、疲劳、抑郁、孤独感和性功能的有效问卷的应答,以及来自病历的评估。采用线性回归模型对男性和女性患者之间以及 MTX 使用者和 MTX 非使用者之间的数值结果进行比较分析。在 286 例 RA 患者中(69 名男性和 217 名女性),67.8%的患者在诊断后 1 年内使用 MTX。比较女性和男性患者,无论是总体情况还是 MTX 使用的亚组情况,我们发现女性在诊断时的身体功能以及性功能、抑郁、疲劳和研究入组时的身体功能的不良结局明显多于男性。在比较按性别分组的 MTX 使用者和 MTX 非使用者时,也存在性别差异。只有在比较 MTX 使用者和 MTX 非使用者时,HAQ 和孤独感评分才有显著差异。与男性 RA 患者相比,RA 女性患者在选定的 PROM 测量中存在更多的负面结果,无论在总体情况还是在 MTX 使用和非使用者的亚组中。这些发现呼吁在 RA 患者的治疗和护理以及未来的临床研究中,更加关注性别差异的重要性。