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Objective: We compared the incidence rates of hospitalized infections (HIs) between tocilizumab (TCZ) and other biological/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) in adults aged ≥75 years with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We used a Japanese claims database from Medical Data Vision Co., Ltd (Tokyo, Japan) to perform a retrospective longitudinal population-based study in patients with RA who were prescribed b/tsDMARDs between 2014 and 2019. We calculated adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) for HIs in three age groups (<65, ≥65 and <75, and ≥75 years). Results: Of 5506 patients, 2265 (41.1%) were <65 years, 1709 (31.0%) were 65–74 years, and 1532 (27.8%) were ≥75 years. Crude incidence rates (/100 person-years) of HIs were 3.99, 7.27, and 10.77, respectively. In the oldest group, aRRs (95% confidence interval) for HIs (b/tsDMARDs versus TCZ) were as follows: etanercept, 2.40 (1.24–4.61); adalimumab, 1.90 (0.75–4.83); golimumab, 1.21 (0.66–2.23); and abatacept, 0.89 (0.49–1.62). In the other age groups, the noticeable difference was a lower aRR of etanercept versus TCZ in the youngest group (0.30, 0.11–0.85). Conclusion: In patients with RA aged ≥75 years, b/tsDMARDs have a similar risk of HIs to tocilizumab except for etanercept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We evaluated the real-world tolerability and effectiveness of tocilizumab in Japanese patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK). Methods: Patients with TAK who had not received tocilizumab in the previous 6 months were enrolled in ACTEMRA® (ACT)-Bridge, a phase 4, observational study, from 66 Japanese institutions (enrolment period, September 2017 to September 2020) and received weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab 162 mg (observation period, 52 weeks). Results: Among 120 patients included (mean age, 38.4 years; mean disease duration, 7.7 years; treated for relapse, 50.8%; previous immunosuppressant use, 57.5%; glucocorticoid use at baseline, 97.5%), 49 (40.8%) reported adverse events. The most common adverse event of special interest was serious infection (7.5%). Relapse was observed in 24 (20.0%) patients (0.8%, 2.5%, and 16.7% reporting ≥3, 2, and 1 relapses, respectively). The reasons for diagnosing relapse included chest and back pain (45.8%), neck pain (25.0%), fatigue (16.7%), fever and headache (12.5% each), abnormal imaging findings (50.0%), and elevated inflammatory markers (16.7%). At the last observation, 83.0% of relapse-free patients recorded a concomitant glucocorticoid dose (prednisolone equivalent) <10 mg/day. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the effectiveness of tocilizumab in patients with TAK, with no new safety concerns. Tocilizumab plus glucocorticoids may be considered a treatment option for TAK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]