Remote monitoring or patient-initiated care in axial spondyloarthritis: a 3-armed randomised controlled noninferiority trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether novel follow-up regimen, remote monitoring, or patient-initiated care is noninferior to usual care in maintaining low disease activity, in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: This is a randomised, controlled, 3-armed, parallel-group, open-label, noninferiority trial. Patients with axSpA in low disease activity on stable treatment with tumour necrosis factor inhibitor were recruited from a Norwegian outpatient clinic. Patients were randomly allocated 1:1:1 to remote monitoring, patient-initiated care, or usual care (control group), with 18 months of follow-up. Primary outcome was mean probability of axSpA Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) of <2.1, compared between groups at 6, 12, and 18 months, with 15% noninferiority margin. Secondary outcomes included other measures of disease activity, physical function, patient satisfaction, change of medication, resource use, and adverse events.

Results: Of 243 patients enrolled patients, 235 completed the study (remote monitoring = 75, patient-initiated care = 79, usual care = 81). At the 6-month, 12-month, and 18-month assessments, 90% or more patients in all 3 groups had ASDAS of <2.1. The estimated difference of probability of ASDAS < 2.1 was as follows: usual care vs remote monitoring, -4.1% (97.5% CI, -9.9% to 1.8%); usual care vs patient-initiated care, -1.1% (97.5% CI, -7.2% to 4.9%); and remote monitoring vs patient-initiated care, 2.9% (95% CI, -1.5% to 7.4%). Health providers' resource use was lowest in patient-initiated care; other secondary outcomes were comparable.

Conclusions: In patients with axSpA in low disease activity and on stable treatment with tumour necrosis factor inhibitor, follow-up with remote monitoring or patient-initiated care was noninferior to usual care in maintaining low disease activity, supporting the implementation of novel follow-up strategies.