Sarah S. Kalia, Nellie A. Triedman, Maura D. Iversen, Robert C. Green, Elinor A. Mody, Michael L. Atkinson, Jeffrey A. Sparks, Zhi Yu, Elizabeth W. Karlson, Bing Lu, Kevin D. Deane, Bonnie L. Bermas, Derrick J. Todd, Karen H. Costenbader, Simon M. Helfgott, Rachel Miller Kroouze, Maria G. Prado, Paul F. Dellaripa
Objective
To determine the effect of disclosure of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk personalized with genetics, biomarkers, and lifestyle factors on health behavior intentions.
Methods
We performed a randomized controlled trial among first-degree relatives without RA. Subjects assigned to the Personalized Risk Estimator for RA (PRE-RA) group received the web-based PRE-RA tool for RA risk factor education and disclosure of personalized RA risk estimates including genotype/autoantibody results and behaviors (n=158). Subjects assigned to the comparison arm received standard RA education (n=80). The primary outcome was readiness for change based on the transtheoretical model, using validated contemplation ladder scales. Increased motivation to improve RA risk-related behaviors (smoking, diet, exercise, or dental hygiene) was defined as an increase in any ladder score compared to baseline assessed immediately, 6 weeks, and 6 months post-intervention. Subjects reported behavior change at each visit. We performed intention-to-treat analyses using generalized estimating equations for the binary outcome.
Results
Subjects randomized to PRE-RA were more likely to increase ladder scores over post-intervention assessments (RR 1.23, 95%CI 1.01-1.51) than those randomized to non-personalized education. At 6 months, 63.9% of PRE-RA subjects and 50.0% of comparison subjects increased motivation to improve behaviors (age-adjusted difference 15.8%, 95%CI 2.8-28.8%). Compared to non-personalized education, more PRE-RA subjects increased fish intake (45.0% vs. 22.1%; p=0.005), brushed more frequently (40.7% vs. 22.9%; p=0.01), flossed more frequently (55.7% vs. 34.8%; p=0.004), and quit smoking (62.5% vs. 0.0% among 11 smokers; p=0.18).
Conclusion
Disclosure of RA risk personalized with genotype/biomarker results and behaviors increased motivation to improve RA risk-related behaviors. Personalized medicine approaches may motivate health behavior improvements for those at risk for RA and provide rationale for larger studies evaluating effects of behavior changes on clinical outcomes such as RA-related autoantibody production or RA development.
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