Assessment of outpatient primary care physicians’ awareness of Takayasu arteritis

Abstract

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare disease. Due to the variety of clinical manifestations the patients may primarily apply to general practitioner or other specialist.Aim. To assess the awareness of primary care physicians and outpatient department specialists of TA clinical manifestation, diagnosis criteria and treatment issues.Methods. 200 physicians consented to take part in a survey. The study sample included 50 internists, 25 neurologists, 21 gastroenterologists, 18 rheumatologists, 28 cardiologists, 45 pediatricians, 13 nephrologists practicing at the outpatient departments of the city of Yekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk region.Results. Among the related specialists, the most freuent incorrect answers were given on intermittent claudication (48 % correct), involved arteries (49 %). Rare application of TA diagnostic criteria (32 %), low awareness of the TA diagnostic standard (39 %) was found. The survey results confirm previously reported data on the low awareness of TA by primary care physicians.Conclusion. This is the first study to assess the primary medical service specialists awareness in the Russian Federation. Diagnosis and treatment of TA should be included in a number of educational programs and resources for continuing vocational education.