SAT0007 Is Late Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis (Lora) Really a Distinct Entity of RA? Results from the Swiss Observational Cohort

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is generally described as a disease with two peaks of onset, either late (late onset RA, LORA) or early (young onset RA, normal 30-55 years, YORA). Considering that the average age of the population is continuously rising, LORA will gain importance in the near future. Despite this growing importance LORA has not been the focus of much interest in the past. Objectives This study was set up to analyse disease activity and progression in LORA in comparison to YORA patients with early disease. Methods This is a cohort study within the Swiss RA registry SCQM. We included all patients with recent onset arthritis, either RA (disease duration ≤1 year) or undifferentiated, as diagnosed by the data-entering physician. Patients were followed up to 5 years. The cut off between YORA and LORA was operationally set at 60 years of age. Disease progression and activity was assessed based on DAS 28 and the progression of joint erosions using the Ratingen score. Results A total of 592 patients with early undifferentiated or RA was analysed. The age at disease onset had a Gaussian distribution, with a single peak at 60 years of age. 366 patients were 60 years or younger (YORA) and 226 patients were older (LORA) at disease onset. DAS 28 scores were significantly higher among LORA as compared to YORA patients (4.8 vs. 4.5, p = 0.049). Corticosteroids were used in 68% of LORA patients as a first line treatment, compared to 25.4% in YORA patients ( X 2 test, p X 2 test, all p References Our results do not support the existence of a separate LORA subgroup with a distinct peak of incidence and/or course of the disease. Disclosure of Interest None Declared