Inflammatory Rheumatic Conditions Research Articles

P041 Health-related quality of life in patients receiving glucocorticoids for a rheumatic disease and associated factors : a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background/Aims Glucocorticoids (GCs) used in the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic conditions can impact on patients in different ways. The objective of this study was to identify socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients undertaking GCs for a rheumatic disease. Methods This was a cross-sectional study using online survey methods. Participants taking GCs for a rheumatic disease from Australia, United Kingdom and the United States of America were included. HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D-5L converted into a linear EQ5D index value. Eight explanatory factors (age, sex, country, educational level, employment status, disease group, self-reported disease state, and dose of GCs) were tested for potential association with HRQoL using univariable and multivariable (hierarchical) analyses. Factors found to have a significant association with EQ5D index at a P < 0.05 level in the multivariable model were considered to be independently associated with HRQoL. Results A total of 945 patients completed the EQ-5D-5L with no missing values: UK n = 742 (79%); USA n = 139 (15%); Australia/New Zealand n = 64 (7%); mean age 57.6 (SD = 13.6); 833 (88%) women. Participants with inflammatory arthritis n = 197 (21%), connective tissue disease and/or vasculitis n = 402 (43%), giant cell arteritis and/or polymyalgia rheumatica n = 346 (37%) were included. Those with self-reported active disease were 726 (77%). Mean (SD) EQ5D index was 0.64 (0.25); there were significant differences between groups in EQ-5D-5L index by age (median split, t=-3.77, p < 0.001); sex (t = 3.40, p < 001); educational level (F[3]=10.51, p < 0.001); employment status (F[6]=37.67, P < 0.001); disease group (T[2]=20.23, p < 0.001); disease state (T=-8.46, p < 0.001); and the dose of GCs(T = 2.95, p < 0.001). Worse HRQoL was associated with older age, being female, low educational attainment, being unemployed, having an inflammatory arthritis or a CTD, disease being active, and taking a higher dose of GC. Of the eight factors that were tested in the multivariable model, five were found to be independently associated with HRQoL. These were: disease state (β = 0.12, p < 0.001), disease group (β = 0.06, p < 0.001), employment status (β = 0.05, p < 0.001), sex (β = 0.05, p < 0.001), and educational level (β = 0.04, p < 0.001). This 5-factor model explained 18% of the variance in EQ5D index scores (F[1, 926] = 4.97, P = 0.026). The excluded factors in the model were age, dose, and country. Conclusion In our data, we identified 5 factors independently associated with worse HRQoL in patients being treated with GCs. Over 80% of the variance was not explained by our model likely due to use of a generic HRQoL measure (EQ-5D-5L) as outcome variable, and the small number of explanatory variables tested within this survey. Further research is required to identify potential targets to support interventions. Disclosure S. Janagan: None. K. Lim: None. R. Bhogal: None. S. Bridgewater: Grants/research support; Vifor pharma. C. Silverthorne: None. P. Richards: None. J. Dawson: None. E. Dures: Grants/research support; Vifor pharma. C. Hill: None. S. Goodman: Consultancies; UCB. Grants/research support; Novartis. S.L. Mackie: Consultancies; Consultancy on behalf of her institution for Roche/Chugai, Sanofi, AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Pfizer. Other; Investigator on clinical trials for Sanofi, GSK, Sparrow, speaking/lecturing on behalf of her institution for Roche/Chugai, Vifor, Pfizer, UCB, Novartis and AbbVie, ; chief investigator on STERLING-PMR trial, funded by NIHR; patron of the charity PMRGCAuk, No personal remuneration was received for any of the above activities. Support from Roche/Chugai to attend EULAR2019 in person and from Pfizer to attend ACR Convergence 2021 virtually., SLM is supported in part by the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre., The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR,the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, the National Health Service or the UK Department of Health. M. Ndosi: Grants/research support; Vifor pharma. J.C. Robson: Consultancies; Vifor Pharma. Member of speakers’ bureau; Vifor Pharma. Grants/research support; Unrestricted Grant/research support from: Vifor Pharma.

Arterial Stiffness as a Surrogate Marker of Cardiovascular Disease and Atherosclerosis in Patients with Vasculitides: A Literature Review.

Vasculitis, a group of systemic inflammatory diseases that affect the cardiovascular (CV) system, presents with a variety of clinical manifestations that depend on the size of the affected blood vessels. While some types of vasculitis reveal distinct symptoms, others are characterized by more diffuse and nonspecific presentations that can result in delayed diagnosis and treatment initiation. Interestingly, patients with vasculitides share a significant comorbidity: an elevated CV risk, contributing to increased rates of CV events and mortality. This heightened risk is caused by cumulative inflammatory burden, traditional CV risk factors, medication effects, and reduced physical fitness. Traditional risk assessment tools, commonly used in the general population, frequently underestimate the CV risk in patients with inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Consequently, novel approaches are necessary to stratify the precise CV risk in vasculitis patients. A number of surrogate parameters for CV risk have been investigated, with arterial stiffness emerging as a promising marker. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a well-established method for assessing arterial stiffness and predicting CV risk across different populations. Among numerous PWV variants, carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) stands out as the most extensively studied and accepted reference standard. It has demonstrated its utility as a surrogate CV parameter both in the general population and in patients with systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases. In recent years, research has expanded to assess arterial stiffness in systemic rheumatic diseases, such as arthritis, connective tissue diseases, rheumatologic overlap syndromes, and chronic pain disorders, using measurements of PWV and other markers of arterial compliance and elasticity. Despite burgeoning research in rheumatologic diseases, data on CV risk markers in vasculitides remain limited and fragmented. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of arterial stiffness as a potential screening marker for CV diseases, atheromatosis, and ultimately CV risk among patients with vasculitides.

Facet joint involvement in the inflammatory rheumatic disease

Background: The involvement of facet joints (FJ) in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disorders remains underexplored. This review aims to look at FJ disease from a rheumatologist’s perspective, with the emphasis given to the clinical presentations and patterns of FJ engagement in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and crystal-related arthropathies, and discussion of challenges in studying FJ in rheumatic disease.Methods: A systematic PubMed search using the pertinent keywords was performed, relevant articles extracted, and the acquired data critically assessed, interpreted, and organized according to the authors’ experience and judgment.Results: FJ involvement is common in patients with radiographic axSpA, occurs throughout the spine, but is more frequently seen in the thoracic segment. The existing data suggests that the FJ are primarily affected by the disease process, while altered spine biomechanics due to the presence of syndesmophytes at the same vertebral level contributes to the FJ fusion. Predominant involvement of FJ of the cervical spinal segment has been suggested in PsA; however, prevalence and clinical significance of FJ involvement in PsA is still markedly underexplored. RA-related FJ disease of the cervical spine in patients with poorly controlled RA is not uncommon and can be related to significant morbidity, while the burden of FJ involvement in the thoracic and lumbar spinal segments in RA is also underexplored. FJ disease is possible in the course of crystal-related arthropathies, but the high level of suspicion is a prerequisite for the timely diagnosis.Conclusions: The involvement of FJ in the course of inflammatory rheumatic disease is not uncommon. Prospective studies are needed to understand the epidemiology and significance of FJ disease in inflammatory rheumatic conditions.

Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Inflammatory Rheumatological Conditions on Outcomes Following Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Inflammatory rheumatological conditions, also known as inflammatory rheumatic conditions (IRC), constitute a category of autoimmune and inflammatory ailments primarily affecting the musculoskeletal system, encompassing the joints, muscles, and connective tissues. The objective of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the impact of inflammatory rheumatological conditions (IRC) on post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) outcomes.This study was performed as per the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched by two authors without any language constraints from January 1, 2015, to October 15, 2023. The primary outcome assessed in this meta-analysis was all-cause mortality. Other outcomes included myocardial infarction and revascularization. A total of 11 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The risk of all-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients with IRC compared to non-IRC patients (RR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.26, p-value: 0.04). There is a significantly higher risk of myocardial infarction and revascularization in patients with IRC as opposed to those without IRC. Furthermore, while there was a higher risk of stroke in the IRC group compared to the non-IRC group, this disparity did not reach statistical significance. Future research should focus on specific inflammatory rheumatoid conditions, a comprehensive evaluation of cardiovascular events, and targeted interventions to enhance patient outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Validation of a new glucocorticoid-specific Patient-Reported Outcome Questionnaire (the Steroid PRO)

ObjectivesGlucocorticoids used in the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic conditions can impact on health-related quality of life. An underpinning qualitative study developed a long-list of candidate items for a treatment-specific patient-reported...

Vagus nerve stimulation as a therapeutic option in inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

The vagus nerve forms intricate neural connections with an extensive number of organs, particularly the digestive system. The vagus nerve has a pivotal role as a fundamental component of the autonomic nervous system, exhibiting an essential effect. It establishes a direct link with the parasympathetic system, consequently eliciting the synaptic release of acetylcholine. Recent studies have revealed the potential anti-inflammatory function of the vagus nerve. The activation of the hypothalamic system through the stimulation of vagal afferents is fundamentally involved in regulating inflammation. This activation process leads to the production of cortisol. The other mechanism, defined as the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, is characterized by the involvement of vagal efferents. These fibers release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at particular synaptic connections, involving interactions with macrophages and enteric neurons. The mechanism under consideration is ascribed to the α-7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The fusion of acetylcholine receptors is responsible for the restricted secretion of inflammatory mediators by macrophages. A potential mechanism for anti-inflammatory effects involves the stimulation of the sympathetic system through the vagus nerve, leading to the control of immunological responses within the spleen. This article offers an extensive summary of the present knowledge regarding the therapeutic effectiveness of stimulating the vagus nerve in managing inflammatory rheumatic conditions based on the relationship of inflammation with the vagus nerve. Furthermore, the objective is to present alternatives that may be preferred while applying vagus nerve stimulation approaches.

Can vitamin D be an adjuvant therapy for juvenile rheumatic diseases?

Vitamin D, known for its essential role in calcium and bone homeostasis, has multiple effects beyond the skeleton, including regulation of immunity and modulation of autoimmune processes. Several reports have shown suboptimal serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in people with different inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic conditions, and an association between 25(OH)D levels, disease activity and outcomes. Although most available data pertain to adults, insights often are extended to children. Juvenile rheumatic diseases (JRDs) are a significant health problem during growth because of their complex pathogenesis, chronic nature, multisystemic involvement, and long-term consequences. So far, there is no definitive or clear evidence to confirm the preventive or therapeutic effect of vitamin D supplementation in JRDs, because results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have produced inconsistent outcomes. This review aims to explore and discuss the potential role of vitamin D in treating selected JRDs. Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus were comprehensively searched in June 2023 for any study on vitamin D supplementary role in treating the most common JRDs. We used the following keywords: "vitamin D" combined with the terms "juvenile idiopathic arthritis", "juvenile systemic scleroderma", "juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus", "juvenile inflammatory myopathies", "Behcet disease", "periodic fever syndromes" and "juvenile rheumatic diseases". Observational studies have found that serum 25(OH)D concentrations are lower in juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile systemic scleroderma, Behcet disease and proinflammatory cytokine concentrations are higher. This suggests that vitamin D supplementation might be beneficial, however, current data are insufficient to confirm definitively the complementary role of vitamin D in the treatment of JRDs. Considering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide, children and adolescents should be encouraged to supplement vitamin D according to current recommendations. More interventional studies, especially well-designed RCTs, assessing the dose-response effect and adjuvant effect in specific diseases, are needed to determine the potential significance of vitamin D in JRDs treatment.

Why is polymyalgia rheumatica a disease of older adults? Explanations through etiology and pathogenesis: a narrative review.

Polymyalgia rheumatica is one of the most common inflammatory rheumatic conditions in older adults. The disease is characterized by pain and stiffness in the shoulder and pelvic girdle. Polymyalgia rheumatica is almost always observed in adults over the age of 50. The current article aimed to provide explanations for the age preference of polymyalgia rheumatica by reviewing the literature regarding disease etiology and pathogenesis. Potential factors related to the association between polymyalgia rheumatica and aging include immunosenescence/inflammaging, increased risk of infections by aging, endocrinosenescence, and age-related changes in gut microbiota. These factors and their potential contributions to immune-mediated inflammation will be discussed.

Incidence, prevalence, and comorbidities of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in Germany: a retrospective observational cohort health claims database study

BackgroundJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) describes heterogenous categories of chronic inflammatory rheumatic conditions of unknown origin in children and adolescents. Epidemiological data in the literature vary, depending on geographic location, ethnicity and the case definition used. We evaluated epidemiology, especially that of the categories defined by the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).MethodsUsing data from two different longitudinal health claims databases (WIG2 and InGef) from January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2019, we looked at patients aged 2 to 15 years old with at least one main inpatient or two secondary inpatient/verified outpatient ICD-10 diagnoses in at least two different quarters within one calendar year. We calculated prevalence and incidence (per 100,000 patients) and extrapolated data to the entire German population, looking at differences in gender and age groups. Additionally, we collected data on “other” not necessary comorbidities in our JIA patient population.ResultsOf the 3–4 million patients in the databases (respectively) in 2018, we found a total of 546 (WIG2) and 849 (InGef) patients that met our JIA case definition, with an incidence of 34 (29–41) and 60 (53–67) and prevalence of 133 (122–145) and 168 (157–179). Both incidence and prevalence throughout the age range were mostly higher in females than males, however the difference between females and males increased with increasing age. Of the ILAR categories, oligoarthritis was the most prevalent (70 and 91 per 100,000), with about half of our JIA patients in this category, followed by undifferentiated arthritis (49 and 56 cases per 100,000) and rheumatoid factor negative (RF-) (31 and 39 per 100,000). Incidence in 2018 was the highest in these three categories. Atopic dermatitis, vasomotor and allergic rhinitis, and uveitis were the pre-defined comorbidities seen most often in both databases.ConclusionThis study provides current incidence and prevalence JIA data in Germany, contributing to knowledge on burden of disease and tools for healthcare planning.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Rheumatology to Detect Cardiac Involvement Since Early and Pre-clinical Stages of the Autoimmune Diseases: A Narrative Review.

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) encompass multisystem disorders, and cardiovascular involvement is a well-known feature of autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Unfortunately, subclinical and early cardiovascular involvement remains clinically silent and often undetected, despite its well-documented impact on patient management and prognostication with an even more significant effect on severe and future MACE events as the disease progresses. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), today, commands a unique position of supremacy versus its competition in cardiac assessment and is the gold standard for the non-invasive evaluation of cardiac function, structure, morphology, tissue characterization, and flow with the capability of evaluating biventricular function; myocardium for edema, ischemia, fibrosis, infarction; valves for thickening, large masses; pericardial inflammation, pericardial effusions, and tamponade; cardiac cavities for thrombosis; conduction related abnormalities and features of microvascular and large vessel involvement. As precise and early detection of cardiovascular involvement plays a critical role in improving the outcome of rheumatic and autoimmune conditions, our review aims to highlight the evolving role of CMR in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), limited sclerosis (LSc), adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) (formerly Churg-Strauss syndrome), and DRESS syndrome (DS). It draws attention to the need for concerted, systematic global interdisciplinary research to improve future outcomes in autoimmune-related rheumatic conditions with multiorgan, multisystem, and cardiovascular involvement.

Covid-19, Long Covid, and Psychosomatic Manifestations

Abstract COVID-19 mainly affects the respiratory system; however, other body parts can also be involved. After resolving the acute stage, long-standing COVID effects can continue to trouble COVID survivors; a term used to describe them is “long COVID” or post-COVID syndrome. Long COVID phenotypes are physical and functional: physical symptoms include persistent dyspnea, chest pain, myalgia, impaired mobility, and arthralgia, whereas fatigue, depression, cognitive impairment, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, insomnia, and somatization are considered the functional aspects. Growing evidence suggests inflammatory rheumatic conditions may develop in COVID-19. COVID-19 further impact patients significantly with inflammatory arthritis (IA), their physical, psychological and social relationships, and their quality of life. Psychiatric COVID long-haulers could overload the existing rheumatology facilities globally, especially in the simultaneous presence of IA and COVID-19. This perspective addresses how psychosomatic manifestations of COVID-19 and “long COVID” burden the present rheumatology facility. We further address treatment options of “long COVID” and future research direction regarding its pathophysiology and “long COVID” psychosomatic illness, especially in the setting of chronic rheumatic diseases.

Welcoming clinical nutrition in Rheumatology – summary of first dietary recommendations for patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic conditions

Nutrition has been identified as playing a significant role in inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Available recommendations for managing these diseases have recently included lifestyle changes as well as dietary advice as complementary to pharmacological treatments. This is a summary of the first dietary recommendations for patients suffering from rheumatic diseases, postulated by the French Society for Rheumatology. The work was performed by a group of multidisciplinary experts and it was based on a systematic literature review of available published data, also considering the quality of studies. The eight principles and nine recommendations issued target both joint and extra-articular effects of nutritional intervention. The recommendations state following a Mediterranean diet, supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Restrictive-type diets like gluten-free, dairy-free, fasting or vitamins and trace elements supplementation are not recommended because of lack of scientifically proven benefit. The use of probiotics or spices have insufficient rationale to be recommended.

Scleroderma – Lupus Erythematosus Overlap or Lupoderma: Reporting an Uncommon Association

Overlap syndromes are distinct entities with manifestations of rheumatic diseases in a patient that are not restricted to a particular disease. Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, and idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) are definite connective tissue diseases that can have symptoms with significant overlap. If the clinical, biochemical, and serological parameters do not fulfill the criteria of any of the four diseases, it is termed as undifferentiated connective tissue disease. On the contrary, mixed connective tissue disease is a distinct clinical entity with specific parameters and positive U1RNP titers. Although scleroderma and SLE have their overlap profiles with other inflammatory rheumatic conditions, overlap with IIMs has been the commonest co-association in both the conditions. SLE-scleroderma overlap has been infrequently reported in the literature and can be considered as the rarest overlap as far as prevalence is concerned. We report a case of SLE-scleroderma overlap in a 21-year-old female along with discussing various aspects of the manifestations and complications of the overlap along with the challenges faced by the clinician in managing this relatively rare entity.

Anti-osteoporotic medication and scleroderma

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) represents a challenging condition, usually requiring a multi-disciplinary team due to multi-organ involvement; it is mostly considered an autoimmune disease; the signature of the malady is the extensive fibrosis at the level of skin and multiple organs, associating endothelial/vessel damage and anomalies of immune response. We point out a few aspects concerning scleroderma-related osteoporosis. This is a literature review. Patients might associate low bone mineral density (the underling mechanisms are not entirely understood), thus an increased risk of fractures; so early recognition and treatment is mandatory for a better outcome. Some data showed that particularly vertebral fractures are prone to the condition. Almost half of individuals with the malady have osteoporosis (female prevalence, especially post-menopausal) and one third of them have an osteoporotic fracture. Older age and associated vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of fracture. Vitamin D has pleomorphic distribution, also targeting the immune modulation, cytokines puzzle, and the muscle-bone crosstalk in scleroderma. Hypovitaminosis D might be expected in these patients, while general D-supplementation has controversial benefits effects. Chronic inflammatory rheumatic conditions might benefit from the TBS use as fracture risk indicator through micro-architecture evaluation. It seems that patients with systemic sclerosis and malnutrition have lower TBS; high Dkk-1 serum levels (Dickkopf-1) is correlated with reduced TBS and advanced disease; TBS is correlated to the extent of microvascular complications; exposure to glucocorticoids (certain high-dose regimes) supplementary lowers TBS. Gastrointestinal complications are presented in 90% of patients with systemic sclerosis, involving fibrosis at any level which is a poor prognostic factor; malabsorption of nutrients and weight loss correlates with reduced bone formation while esophageal and gastric anomalies contraindicate the use of oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. Other abnormal elements of skeleton frame include: premature ovarian failure, serotonin system anomalies, chronic inflammation, potential side effects of immunosuppressant drugs. In patients with systemic sclerosis, the choices of medication targeting osteoporosis are limited; the use of intravenous bisphosphonates remains first line option (if renal function is adequate); the consideration of skin and esophageal anomalies is mandatory in the management of osteoporosis. Overall, the landscape of bone domain in systemic sclerosis is multi-leveled and some areas are still waiting for clear answers.

Factors associated with patient activation in inflammatory arthritis: a multisite cross-sectional study.

ObjectivesPatient activation covers the skills, abilities and behaviour that impact how able and willing someone is to take an active role in self-managing their health. This study explored clinical and psychosocial factors associated with patient activation in rheumatology patients.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study using postal survey methods. Participants with inflammatory rheumatic conditions were from six rheumatology centres in England. Patient activation was captured using the Patient Activation Measure (PAM). Twenty-nine explanatory factors were tested for potential association with patient activation in univariable and multivariable analyses. In preliminary multivariable analyses, factors found to have an association with patient activation at a P < 0.1 level were entered into the final multivariable model. Those that remained significant at a P < 0.05 level were considered associated with patient activation.ResultsThe sample comprised 251 participants (74% female) with a mean age of 59.31 years (s.d. 12.69), disease duration of 14.48 years (s.d. 12.52) and a PAM score of 58.3 (s.d. 11.46). Of the 29 candidate factors, 25 were entered into a preliminary multivariable analysis. In the final multivariable analysis, four factors (self-efficacy, the illness belief that treatment will control participants’ condition and two dimensions of health literacy) were significantly associated with patient activation. This final model accounted for 40.4% of the variance in PAM scores [F(4, 246) = 41.66, P < 0.001].ConclusionsPatient activation is important in managing rheumatic conditions. Our data confirm that self-efficacy and health literacy are particular targets for patient activation interventions.

POS0535 QUERY ALGORITHMS AND MACHINE LEARNING METHODS AS TOOLS TO IDENTIFY COMORBIDITIES IN LARGE-SCALE FREE-TEXT BASED FIELDS: A CASE-REPORT

Background: Inflammatory rheumatic conditions (IRC) are associated with comorbidity, two most important being cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and infections [1, 2]. A crucial initial step when proceeding with studying CVD and infections in these patients is identification of events. The large scale EHR datasets enable studies to assess low incident and clinically important events, but requires both accurate as well as efficient data extraction. Studying Electronic Health Records (EHR) using query-based algorithms (QBA) and machine learning algorithms (MLA) offers a valuable tool to screen large-scale collections for rare events, thus replacing resource intensive manual chart review. Objectives: To explore the (comparative) usefulness of QBA and MLA to identify CVD and infection events in EHR free-text data in patients with chronic IRC. Methods: To independently develop and validate the algorithms we used two EHR databases, i.e. a training set with psoriatic arthritis patients (N=977, dataset A, Golden Standard) and a validation set of rheumatoid arthritis patients (N=1098, dataset B). Using both QBA and MLA, we aimed to identify (yes/no and timing) CVD and infections. We assessed the performances of the algorithms by calculating the specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV) and the negative predictive value (NPV), respectively. Results: In the final performance analysis on dataset B, both QBA and MLA showed a high performance in identifying CVD (sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV for QBA ((95% CI)= 0.69 (0.66-0.72), 0.99 (0.96-1.02), 0.84 (0.81-0.87), 0.98 (0.95-1.01)) and for MLA (sensitivity = 0.69 (0.66-0.72), 0.98 (0.95-1.01), 0.68 (0.65-0.71), 0.98 (0.95-1.01), respectively) Infections showed similar performance (QBA sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV is 0.64 (0.61-0.67), 0.96 (0.93-0.99), 0.66 (0.63-0.69), 0.96 (0.93-.0.99) and for MLA = 0.61 (0.58-0.64), 0.93 (0.90-0.96), 0.49 (0.46-0.52), 0.96 (0.93-0.99), respectively). For infections the specificity was slightly higher for QBA relative to MLA. Conclusion: We found a consistent high performance of both the QBA and MLA algorithms for the identification of CVD and infections in our free text EHR of patients with chronic IRC (Table 1). The performance of QBA highly depends on the domain knowledge of the builders, which might allow it to outperform a Gold Standard. MLA is efficient as it does not require any domain knowledge, but its performance is restricted by the quality of the Gold Standard.

Comorbidity burden in the first three years after diagnosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or spondyloarthritis: a general practice registry-based study

ObjectivesRheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) are chronic inflammatory rheumatic conditions with high levels of comorbidity requiring additional therapeutic attention. We aimed to compare the 3-year comorbidity...

P098 Higher self-reported depression, anxiety and MSK scores in patients with non-inflammatory compared to inflammatory rheumatic diseases irrespective of age and gender

Abstract Background/Aims It is recognised that chronic musculo-skeletal (MSK) conditions have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life and level of functioning, as well as mood. In order to explore holistic therapeutic approaches and multidisciplinary support for this patient group, the differential impact of a diagnosis of an inflammatory versus non-inflammatory rheumatic condition on anxiety, depression and MSK general health was assessed. The objectives of this pilot study were to determine the level of anxiety and depression in patients with inflammatory versus non-inflammatory rheumatic conditions and explore some of their determinants. Methods A questionnaire comprising the GAD-7 (anxiety), PHQ-9 (depression) and MSKHQ instruments was disseminated to 165 randomly selected patients attending outpatient clinics. Preliminary results from this questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney tests and a multiple linear regression. Patients were stratified according to diagnosis classified as categorical variable, inflammatory and non-inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Results Differences between patients’ age and gender, as well anxiety, depression and MSK outcomes between the inflammatory and non-inflammatory groups are presented in the table below: Linear regression showed that the strongest determinant of anxiety and depression was the category of diagnosis, i.e. inflammatory or non-inflammatory (p = 0.002, R2 = 0.060; p = 0.001, R2 = 0.072, respectively). Anxiety, depression or MSKHQ outcomes were not affected by gender or age, and MSKHQ was not predicted by diagnosis category either, when we accounted for gender and age. P098 Table 1:InflammatoryNon-inflammatoryp-valuen11946% Female65.871.70.467Age mean (range)54.1 (24-85)53.1 (26-81)0.689Anxietymedian (IQR)5 (1-11)9.5 (5-15.3)0.001n (%) clinically significant anxiety44 (37.0)25 (54.4)0.042Depressionmedian (IQR)8 (4-13)13 (7-19.3)0.002n (%) clinically significant depression54 (45.4)30 (65.2)0.022MSKHQ median (IQR)26 (16-35)33 (22-42.5)0.004 Conclusion The preliminary analysis of our study showed that patient-reported anxiety, depression and MSK outcomes were significantly higher in patients with non-inflammatory compared to those with inflammatory rheumatic conditions, and that the diagnosis category was the strongest determinant for anxiety and depression. Disclosure J.R. Henty: None. C. Ciurtin: None. E. Stefanova: None. B. Ellis: None. A. Kocsis: None.

Impact of Exercise Intensity on Calprotectin Levels in Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases

Exercise influences inflammatory response and immune system performance. The regular practice of a moderate activity positively regulates immunity and the inflammatory process, while intensive training depresses it and enhances inflammatory marker secretion. Calprotectin is involved in the inflammatory process, promoting neutrophil recruitment, cell degranulation, and inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, calprotectin has been associated with various inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The present review explores the effect of exercise on calprotectin levels in both healthy and inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Data show that the intensity duration and the type of exercise modulate calprotectin levels and participant inflammatory status. The exact role of calprotectin in the exercise response is yet unknown. Calprotectin could constitute an interesting biomarker for monitoring both the effect of exercise on the inflammatory process in healthy volunteers and the efficiency of exercise treatment programs in a patient with inflammatory rheumatic disease.

A Systematic Review of the Inclusion of Non-Inflammatory Ultrasonographic Enthesopathy Findings in Enthesitis Scoring Indices.

Ultrasound has advanced the diagnosis and management of patients with inflammatory rheumatic conditions. It can be used to identify and monitor enthesitis, a cardinal feature of spondyloarthropthies. Several enthesitis scoring systems utilizing ultrasound to determine entheseal involvement have been developed. These scoring systems generally rely on determining the presence or absence of erosions, tendon enlargement, power Doppler signal, or enthesophytes. This systematic review identified ultrasound scoring systems that have been utilized for evaluating enthesitis and what key components derive the score. Review of these scoring systems, however, demonstrated confounding as some of the score components including enthesophytes may be seen in non-inflammatory conditions and some components including erosions can be seen from chronic damage, but not necessarily indicate active inflammatory disease. What is furthermore limiting is that currently there is not an agreed upon term to describe non-inflammatory enthesopathies, further complicating these scoring systems. This review highlights the need for a more comprehensive ultrasound enthesopathy scoring index.