Abstract

Abstract Background/Aims Patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis (AAV) often have reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire. Global assessment provides a patient and physician’s view on the patient’s overall health and wellbeing. The aim of this project was to examine the level of agreement between the patient and physician global assessment (PtGA and PhGA) in patients with AAV. Methods Patients attending our dedicated tertiary vasculitis clinic were recruited into this prospective study. PtGA and PhGA scores, out of 100, were assessed via a visual analog scale, with higher scores representing better health. SF-36 assessed HRQoL. Discordance was defined as an absolute difference of ≥ 20 between PhGA and PtGA. Active disease was defined as a BVAS of ≥ 1. Results Ninety-seven patients (mean age 58 years, 46% male) participated. Forty-three (44%) patients had active disease. The majority (88%) were on immunosuppressive therapy with renal (79.4%), lung (42.3%) and sino-nasal (40.2%) being the most commonly involved systems. The mean (SD) PtGA and PhGA was 63.4 (22.2) and 60.8 (24.8) respectively (t = 2.63, p = 0.0049). Mean (SD) PtGA in active versus inactive disease was 59 (22.8) and 66 (21.5) respectively (t = 1.49, p = 0.07). PhGA scores were higher than PtGA in 44 patients with an overall mean difference of + 13.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.97, 17.46, p < 0.001). PtGA scores were higher than PhGA in 48 patients (mean difference +17.9, 95% CI 22.6, 13.3, p < 0.001). Scores were discordant in 26 patients, with PhGA>PtGA (negatively discordant) in 10 (38%). Mean (SD) PhGA in discordant patients versus non-discordant patients was 47.5 (24.7) versus 65.7 (23.1) respectively (t = 1.71, p = 0.001). Mean (SD) age in positively discordant versus negatively discordant patients was 58.8 (17.3) versus 69.1 (8) respectively (t = 1.71, p = 0.026). The percentage of patients with active disease (n=number of patients) in positively discordant versus negatively discordant patients was 50% (n = 8) versus 30% (n = 3) respectively (p = 0.008). Bland-Altman plots showed no systematic bias as global scores increased. Conclusion Overall, physicians did not overestimate patients' global health when using the global assessment tool. Discordance rates were 26%, within which physicians were likelier to assess the patient's global health as lower than patients did themselves. Positively discordant patients (PhGA<PtGA) were likelier to have active disease and were younger on average. Disclosure A. Bhonsle: None. T. Coughlan: None. R. Graven: None. P. Bussa: None. M. Gingold: None. K. Polkinghorne: None. J. Ryan: None. A. Kitching: None.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.