Background Treat to Target (T2T) strategy arises from the need to develop therapeutic targets and tools to achieve defined outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objectives The aim of this study was to describe global change in Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) using T2T strategy for a 24 month period in a large cohort of patients from a Colombian specialized in RA center.

Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed. Records of patients from specialized in RA center were reviewed; those patients were followed-up under T2T standards. Clinical follow-up was designed by the authors according to DAS28 as follows: every 3-5 weeks (DAS28 >5.1), every 7-9 weeks (DAS28 ≥3.1 and ≤5.1), and every 11-13 weeks (DAS28 <3.1). Tender joint count (TJC), swollen joint count (SJC) and DAS28 were measured on each visit. Therapy had to be adjusted with DAS28 >3.2 unless patient's conditions don't permit it; we considered this follow-up type as implementation of a T2T strategy in patients with RA. We divided patients in four groups: remission (Rem), low disease activity (LDA), moderate disease activity (MDA) and severe disease activity (SDA) patients and the aim of the study was to look at what percentage of patients who were in moderate or severe disease activity reached a low disease activity or remission. Descriptive epidemiology was done, percentages and averages were calculated; the median of each variable was analyzed using t-Student assuming normality for DAS28 distribution and the level activity disease was analyzed using Pearson's statistics.

Results 1400 patients were included in this study, 1054 (75.2%) women and 346 (23.7%) men. Mean age 61 years. With regard to treatment it was found that 290 (20.7%) patients were treated with biologics, and 1110 (79.2%) patients with conventional therapy. It was found a global increase in the percentage of patients in remission (REM) and decrease in moderate and severe disease activity groups. The mean of DAS28 was 3.6 at the beginning and 24 months after was 2.6. At 24 months was observed an increase in percentage of patients in remission and a decrease in percentage of patients in MDA/SDA disease activity statistically significant. The difference of medians for each variable showed improvement with statistical significance (p<0.00).

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Conclusions This study shows improvement of DAS28 and level of disease activity in a cohort of RA patients from a specialized center in Colombia treated under recommendations of T2T strategy; it was found a global increase in the percentage of patients in remission (REM) and decrease in moderate and severe disease activity groups. This revision shows the importance of T2T follow-up and treatment for this disease.

Disclosure of Interest None declared