Trending News Today: Study Finds Anti-TNF Therapies More Cost Effective Than Rituximab in RA

A simulation model using real-world data showed that anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies were more cost-effective than rituximab in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), The Center for Biosimilars reported. According to the article, the model simulated 4 treatment regimens: abatacept, tocilizumab, rituximab, and a second anti-TNF. The study found that rituximab was associated with the lowest drug costs; however, when the costs of administration and switching were included, anti-TNF agents had the lowest drug price and the highest number of quality-adjusted life years gained, the article reported.

A new study indicated that physical disability levels and executive functioning can predict employment status in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), The American Journal of Managed Care reported. According to the article, the researchers analyzed data from adult patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Patients who had either stopped working or reduced their work hours by at least 20% due to MS had greater disability and fatigue, lower complex attention and executive functioning, and more self-reported cognitive problems and depression symptoms, the article reported.

A poor quality diet may increase the risk of frailty in older adults, Reuters reported. According to the article, a recent study followed 2154 older US adults for 4 years and assessed frailty levels and diet quality. Overall, individuals with poor quality diets were almost twice as likely as those with high quality diets to become frail and a medium quality diet was associated with a 40% higher frailty risk, the article reported.