Industry Program Sponsor
Janssen Pharmaceutical KK & Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
1020 - 1135 GMT+9
Sunday 29 August
Morning Symposium 3
What is “beyond remission” in RA management, and how should RA specialists approach this?
In recent years, we have witnessed great improvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease control, much of which could be attributed to advancements in treatment modalities and management strategies. With these advances, low disease activity (LDA) and continued remission have become real and achievable therapeutic targets. Nevertheless, it is becoming evident that a significant number of RA patients remain dissatisfied with their disease control despite achieving LDA or remission. This could be due to residual symptoms (such as pain, fatigue, and mental health issues) which could not be alleviated through treatment optimization. Due to the range of residual symptom manifestations, diverse approaches aimed at improving patient satisfaction should be developed. A paradigm shift of what encompasses the concept of “beyond remission” is required. The patient voice, taking into account their subjective experience beyond clinical remission, can potentially have far greater impact on long-term treatment outcomes. In this symposium, our esteemed faculty will provide a fresh perspective on the concept of “beyond remission” for improved RA control from patients’ perspectives and address the practicalities of applying these concepts in clinical practice. Please mark your diaries to join us – together, we can explore possible ways to increase patient satisfaction beyond remission.
Chairs: Prof Masayoshi Harigai, Japan

What is “beyond remission” in RA management, and how should RA specialists approach this?
Dr Mitsumasa Kishimoto
Japan

Case Sharing 1: Rehabilitation -The potential of rehabilitation for better disease control
Dr Masahiro Tada
Japan

Case Sharing 2: Team medical care - Beyond remission - the role of the nurse in enhancing patient outcomes
Ms Susan Oliver
Nurse Consultant Rheumatology
1020 - 1135 GMT+9
Monday 30 August
Morning Symposium 8
Keeping the patient in the centre – the growing role of patient reported outcomes in the management of rheumatologic patients
In recent years, chronic disease areas such as rheumatology have seen a greater emphasis on value-based healthcare and shared decision making in setting treatment goals. Increasingly, patients (and their carers) are considered the core stakeholders in the patient treatment continuum. This is exemplified by the incorporation of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in disease management. PROs are any reports of health status that the patient makes without clinician influence or interpretation. They have been widely implemented in the clinical trial and drug approvals process, yet they are not regularly used in clinical practice. This symposium will explore how rheumatologists can effectively use PROs to elevate the role of patients as a key stakeholder in the treatment journey. The faculty will share from their experience and clinical practice to provide valuable insight into how PROs can positively impact the care of patients with rheumatological diseases.In addition to a review of commonly-used PROs in rheumatology, the faculty will also seek to describe the value that PROs can add to the treatment journey and ultimately, patient outcomes. Results from clinical trials will be interpreted in light of real-world evidence. Of particular relevance to clinicians practicing in the Asia Pacific region, it is important to ensure that currently-available PRO instruments can capture meaningful information despite the factors that influence patients’ perceptions of health. Our faculty will address this by examining how well existing PROs reflect the views of patients in this region.Up-to-date data will provide a backdrop upon which our experts can shed light on how PROs from clinical and real-world studies are used to guide rheumatologists’ decisions. All in all, this symposium will be a valuable opportunity to gain practical insights into the application of PROs in the day-to-day practice of managing rheumatology patients.
Chairs: Prof Kevin Pile, Western Sydney University, Australia

Let the patient do the work – accurate quantitative assessments in routine care on an MDHAQ
Prof Theodore Pincus
Rush University Medical Center, United States

PROs in Asian rheumatology patients – relevant for treatment choice and shared decision making?
Wen-Chan Tsai
Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan