An Intelligent Interactive Management Platform for Rheumatoid Arthritis Care: Real-World Observational Study

Background: Effective postdischarge management is essential for maintaining disease control and improving long-term outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Digital health technologies, particularly intelligent management platforms, provide new opportunities for continuous care and self-management in real-world settings. Objective: This study aimed to develop a nurse-led artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted interactive management platform for postdischarge RA care and examine its association with patient outcomes in a real-world clinical setting. Methods: A single-center, multicampus, real-world observational study with a quasi-experimental framework was conducted at Tongji Hospital between November 2024 and October 2025. Participants were allocated to either a platform-based management group (campus 1; n=184) or a comparison group receiving routine postdischarge care (campus 2; n=157). The platform enabled remote monitoring through a smartphone app, which collected information on joint symptoms, fatigue, medication adherence, laboratory results, and emotional status, with data uploaded to a secure cloud server. The AI system analyzed data in real time and alerted health care providers to abnormalities. Nurses and health coaches delivered personalized education and interventions. Primary outcomes were changes in Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints and Health Assessment Questionnaire-II scores at discharge and the 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes included medication adherence measured as the proportion of prescribed doses taken and patient satisfaction assessed via a 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire at 6 months. Results: A total of 341 patients with RA completed the 6-month follow-up. Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints values decreased significantly in the platform-based management group at 6 months (mean 5.04, SD 1.38 at discharge to mean 4.27, SD 1.20 at 6 months; P