Psoriatic Arthritis Screening Research Articles

50762 A Cross Sectional Study on the Prevalence of Screening for Psoriatic Arthritis and other Comorbidities in Psoriasis Patients during Teleconsultation at a Tertiary Hospital

50762 A Cross Sectional Study on the Prevalence of Screening for Psoriatic Arthritis and other Comorbidities in Psoriasis Patients during Teleconsultation at a Tertiary Hospital

Successful Screening of Undiagnosed Psoriatic Arthritis in Primary Care Utilising Digital Interventions Within a Quality Improvement Programme

Background: Despite the advancements in the management of psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), there remains a significant delay to diagnosis of PsA. National guidelines recommend regular screening of patients with PsO for PsA. The aim of this study was to increase the screening of patients with PsO, and reduce the delay to diagnosis in PsA. Methods: A retrospective baseline audit was conducted in patients with PsO attending a large general practice (Brookside Group Practice, Reading, UK) between November 2022–April 2023. In the follow-up stage between May–November 2023, a digital Egton Medical Information System (EMIS; Emis Health, Rawdon, Leeds, UK) web template, using the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST) questionnaire was implemented. The number of patients with PsO screened for PsA, and the number of newly diagnosed PsA cases, were recorded. Results: At baseline, 15 patients with PsO were identified, and none had PsA screening done. In the follow-up phase, 28 patients coded for PsO were identified. There was an increase in the number of patients screened for PsO from 15 to 28, representing an increase of 87% from baseline. From the follow-up group, 12 (43%) patients were screened for PsA. These patients were referred to the specialist clinic, and seven (58%) had confirmed PsA. This represented a population of patients with previously undiagnosed PsA within the general practitioner (GP) surgery. Conclusions: The authors have successfully implemented an integrated and interactive digital screening tool for PsA within the GP system. This has led to an increase in the detection of patients with PsA. This practical and effective approach is in line with national guidelines for early detection, to prevent long-term damage and disability from PsA.

Successful Screening of Undiagnosed Psoriatic Arthritis in Primary Care Utilising Digital Interventions Within a Quality Improvement Programme

Background: Despite the advancements in the management of psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), there remains a significant delay to diagnosis of PsA. National guidelines recommend regular screening of patients with PsO for PsA. The aim of this study was to increase the screening of patients with PsO, and reduce the delay to diagnosis in PsA. Methods: A retrospective baseline audit was conducted in patients with PsO attending a large general practice (Brookside Group Practice, Reading, UK) between November 2022–April 2023. In the follow-up stage between May–November 2023, a digital Egton Medical Information System (EMIS; Emis Health, Rawdon, Leeds, UK) web template, using the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST) questionnaire was implemented. The number of patients with PsO screened for PsA, and the number of newly diagnosed PsA cases, were recorded. Results: At baseline, 15 patients with PsO were identified, and none had PsA screening done. In the follow-up phase, 28 patients coded for PsO were identified. There was an increase in the number of patients screened for PsO from 15 to 28, representing an increase of 87% from baseline. From the follow-up group, 12 (43%) patients were screened for PsA. These patients were referred to the specialist clinic, and seven (58%) had confirmed PsA. This represented a population of patients with previously undiagnosed PsA within the general practitioner (GP) surgery. Conclusions: The authors have successfully implemented an integrated and interactive digital screening tool for PsA within the GP system. This has led to an increase in the detection of patients with PsA. This practical and effective approach is in line with national guidelines for early detection, to prevent long-term damage and disability from PsA.

Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home.

Psoriasis plaque severity metrics, such as induration (thickness), erythema (redness), and desquamation (scaliness), are associated with the subsequent development of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) among cutaneous-only psoriasis patients (patients with skin or nail psoriasis but no psoriatic arthritis). These metrics can be used for PsA screening. However, a key challenge in PsA screening is to optimize accessibility and minimize costs for patients, while also reducing the burden on healthcare systems. Therefore, an ideal screening tool consists of questions that patients can answer without a physician's assistance. Although reference images can be used to help a patient self-assess erythema and desquamation severity, a patient would need a tactile induration reference card to self-assess induration severity. This protocol describes how to create an induration reference card, the Psoriasis Thickness Reference Card, as well as how to use it to assess lesion induration severity. Administration of reference images for erythema and desquamation and a Psoriasis Thickness Reference Card for induration to 27 psoriasis patients showed that patients were moderately successful at self-assessing the severity of these three metrics. These findings support the feasibility of a future PsA screening test that patients can complete without the need for physician assistance.

Prevalence of Psoriatic Arthritis among Patients with Arthritis: Insights from a Tertiary Rheumatology Clinic in Bangladesh

Background: Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is a complex seronegative inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis, characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of PsA in arthritic patients along with associated demographic and clinical characteristics in a tertiary care setting in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Rheumatology Clinic of Dhaka Medical College Hospital over a period of 6 months from March 2018 to August 2018. A total of 600 arthritis patients underwent screening for PsA, with subsequent evaluations of confirmed cases based on the CASPAR criteria. Demographic and clinical characteristics were documented through face-to-face interviews and physical examination. For data collection, a pre-structured questionnaire was used. Disease activity was assessed using the DAPSA score. The study was conducted according to the ‘Declaration of Helsinki’. The statistical analysis was done with SPSS v-21. Results: The prevalence of PsA in arthritis patients was 5%. Age distribution of PsA showed a majority in between 30-39 years age group with a mean of 36.33±11.86 (SD). Slight female predominance was reported with a percentage of 53.3%. Almost three-fourths of study patients presented with a current diagnosis of psoriasis while the rest had a personal history or family history. A higher incidence (67.7%) of plaque psoriasis was observed followed by sebopsoriasis (20%) and for the rest of the patients, the type of psoriasis was unknown. The disease mostly involved multiple joints (90%), with ankle and metacarpal joints being the most commonly affected at 43.3% and 33.3%, respectively. Disease activity was high in the majority of the patients according to the DAPSA score, representing 53.34% of the patients, with the remainder exhibiting moderate to low disease activity. Conclusion: The study revealed a significant incidence of PsA among the arthritic population which indicates a pressing need for further extensive research on PsA across diverse populations. J MEDICINE 2024; 25: 35-40

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey involving physicians for the clarification of the diagnosis and current status of therapeutic intervention of psoriatic arthritis in Japan.

Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) often experience comorbid, irreversible joint destruction, therefore early diagnosis and treatment of PsA are important. The diagnosis requires a comprehensive assessment, which includes an interview, a physical examination, a visual examination of the skin and nails, a blood test, and an imaging test. To clarify how patients with PsA are actually diagnosed and how physicians collaborate among clinical departments, we conducted a web-based questionnaire survey of 500 physicians (dermatologists, rheumatologists, and orthopedists) frequently involved in PsA treatment in Japan. The survey showed that those patients are rarely confirmed to have axial arthritis, peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, or dactylitis by general dermatology practitioners (GP dermatologists). Overall, <60% of patients suspected of having PsA underwent PsA examination by GP dermatologists more than once every 6 months; this percentage is lower than that of patients who underwent PsA examination by rheumatologists and orthopedists. The Psoriatic Arthritis Screening and Evaluation (PASE) questionnaire is the most commonly used for PsA screening. However, users of PASE were only 11.0%, 25.3%, 14.8%, and 24.1% of GP dermatologists, attending dermatologists in hospitals (HP dermatologists), rheumatologists, and orthopedists, respectively. While >80% of HP dermatologists, rheumatologists, and orthopedists used imaging tests (ultrasound, X-ray, and magnetic resonance imaging) for PsA screening, only 40% of GP dermatologists performed imaging tests. Regarding the demands on the healthcare environment of PsA treatment, early diagnosis and treatment for PsA are crucial in every clinical department. The present study showed that GP dermatologists rarely perform imaging tests or confirm a PsA diagnosis, thus patients may miss out on appropriate treatment through collaboration among clinical departments and step-up therapy. Because patients with PsA present diverse comorbid clinical symptoms, early diagnosis, including routine imaging tests, and appropriate treatment in collaboration with other experts are necessary.

Updates in psoriasis diagnosis and treatment status in China: results from the National Psoriasis Center Registry.

Updates in psoriasis diagnosis and treatment status in China: results from the National Psoriasis Center Registry.

Screening for psoriatic arthritis in dermatological settings—are handheld ultrasound devices the gamechangers we hoped for?

Screening for psoriatic arthritis in dermatological settings—are handheld ultrasound devices the gamechangers we hoped for?

The Challenging Differentiation of Psoriatic Arthritis from Other Arthropathies and Nonspecific Arthralgias in Patients with Psoriasis: Results of a Cross-Sectional Rheumatologic Assessment of a Large Dermatologic Cohort.

Aiming to identify the potential challenges in the classification of musculoskeletal manifestations in patients with psoriasis (PsO), this study analyzed the outcomes of a cross-sectional rheumatologic assessment of 1057 PsO patients. In total, 209 had a previous diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Out of the remaining 848 subjects, 293 (35%) were classified as suspected PsA cases according to the rheumatologist's judgment and/or Early PsA Screening Questionnaire score (EARP) ≥ 3. However, only 14% received a PsA diagnosis, 49% had a PsA-alternative diagnosis, and the remaining 37% had nonspecific arthralgias. Most of the newly diagnosed PsA patients had a symptoms duration ≥1 year (72%) and moderate disease activity (55%) with active oligoarthritis (85%), dactylitis, or enthesitis (35%) as the most frequent clinical pattern. The most frequent PsA-alternative diagnoses were osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia (44% and 41%). The only factors with significant (p < 0.05) utility in discriminating PsA from other diseases and nonspecific arthralgias were young age and EARP score with a history of morning stiffness, swollen joints, or dactylitis. These results demonstrated a high prevalence of suspected musculoskeletal symptoms in PsO patients, with, however, only a small proportion due to PsA. Close collaboration between the dermatologist and rheumatologist plays a crucial role in the differential diagnosis of PsA, as well as in monitoring nonspecific arthralgias for the potential transition to overt PsA.

Screening and Referral Strategies for the Early Recognition of Psoriatic Arthritis Among Patients With Psoriasis: Results of a GRAPPA Survey.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of dermatologists and rheumatologists in the early recognition of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to identify potential improvements to the current shared-care model. A 24-question survey addressing referral strategies was constructed by the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) project steering committee and sent to all members (n = 927). Questions addressed the use of screening tools, frequency of PsA in patients with psoriasis, therapeutic decision making, and suggestions for earlier PsA recognition and current unmet needs. There were 149 respondents (16.1% response rate), which included 113 rheumatologists from 37 countries and 26 dermatologists from 16 countries. Of the dermatologists, 81% use PsA-specific screening instruments. Conversely, rheumatologists reported that only 26.8% of patients referred to them from all sources had been assessed with screening tools. Although dermatologists reported that a mean of 67% of suspected PsA cases were confirmed, rheumatologists reported a mean of 47.9% of confirmed cases. Both specialties reported similar views regarding optimization of the diagnostic process and indicated that the best approach involved combining patient-reported (ie, screening tools) and physician-confirmed findings. Moreover, both specialties identified the education of primary care physicians (PCPs) and dermatologists as the greatest priority to improve PsA screening. The survey indicated the current unmet needs in the early recognition of PsA. Important areas to address include improving the use of screening instruments, increasing the education of community-based dermatologists and PCPs, and using a combination of patient-reported and physician-confirmed findings in the screening approach.

Report of the Skin Research Workgroups From the IDEOM Breakout at the GRAPPA 2022 Annual Meeting.

The International Dermatology Outcome Measures (IDEOM) organization presented an update on its progress related to patient-centered outcome measures for psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) at the 2022 annual meeting of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA). The Musculoskeletal (MSK) Symptoms working group presented an update on the development of the IDEOM Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (IDEOM MSK-Q). The IDEOM MSK-Q is a patient-reported outcome measure intended to capture MSK symptoms and describe their intensity and impact on health-related quality of life in patients with psoriatic disease. IDEOM also presented the progress of the integration of the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST) and Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID) questionnaires into the Epic electronic health record system. This will allow for automated PsA screening and symptom measurement in the hopes of improving disease detection and treat-to-target strategies. The Treatment Satisfaction working group discussed the development of the DermSat-7, a 7-item treatment satisfaction questionnaire specific for dermatological conditions. The DermSat-7 is currently being validated in a multicenter study of patients with PsO.

Prologue: Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) 2022 Annual Meeting.

The 2022 annual meeting of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) was held from July 14 to 17, 2022, in New York City, New York, USA, and was attended by 420 rheumatologists, dermatologists, basic scientists, allied health professionals, patient research partners, and industry partners from 31 countries. A GRAPPA executive retreat, a Trainee Symposium, and the Patient Research Partners Network meeting were held prior to the annual meeting. Presentations included updates in basic research, focusing on biomarkers, personalization of treatments, and the promise of single-cell omics, elucidating the pathogenesis of psoriatic disease (PsD). Presentations also highlighted guttate and plaque psoriasis (PsO), the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its treatments on patients with PsD globally, and the effects of sex and gender in PsD. Reports of ongoing projects included an update on the recently published treatment recommendations, educational initiatives, and the Diagnostic Ultrasound Enthesitis Tool (DUET) study. A session on early identification of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) among patients with PsO included an update on PsA screening tools. Debates were held on whether early intervention for PsO will reduce PsA, whether interleukin (IL)-17 or IL-23 inhibition is a better treatment for PsO and PsA, similarities and differences between axial PsA and axial spondyloarthritis with PsO, and data affecting the understanding of guttate and plaque PsO. Reports from the International Dermatology Outcome Measures (IDEOM) and Young GRAPPiAns concurrent sessions were presented in addition to reports of several other partner groups. Here, we highlight features of the annual meeting and introduce the manuscripts published together as a meeting report.

The comparative performance of three screening questionnaires for psoriatic arthritis in a primary care surveillance study.

The objective of this study was to compare the performance of three PsA screening questionnaires in a primary care psoriasis surveillance study. Participants with psoriasis, and not known to have PsA, were identified from general practice databases and invited to attend a secondary care centre for a clinical assessment. The three patient-completed screening questionnaires (PEST, CONTEST and CONTESTjt) were administered, along with other patient-reported measures, and a clinical examination of skin and joints was performed. Participants who demonstrated signs of inflammatory arthritis suggestive of PsA were referred, via their GP, for a further assessment in a secondary care rheumatology clinic. A total of 791 participants attended the screening visit, and 165 participants were judged to have signs and symptoms of inflammatory arthritis, of which 150 were referred for assessment. Of these, 126 were seen and 48 were diagnosed with PsA. The results for each questionnaire were as follows: PEST: sensitivity 0.625 (95% CI 0.482, 0.749), specificity 0.757 (0.724, 0.787); CONTEST: sensitivity 0.604 (0.461, 0.731), specificity 0.768 (0.736, 0.798); and CONTESTjt: sensitivity 0.542 (0.401, 0.676), specificity 0.834 (0.805, 0.859). CONTESTjt demonstrated marginally superior specificity to PEST, though the area under the ROC curve was similar for all three instruments. Minimal differences between the three screening questionnaires were found in this study, and no preferred questionnaire is indicated by these results. The choice of which instrument to choose will depend on other factors, such as simplicity and low patient burden.

Reliability and validity of the Persian version of psoriatic arthritis screening questionnaire.

The Early Arthritis for Psoriatic Patients (EARP) questionnaire is a fast and simple way to screen psoriatic arthritis. This study was carried out to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the Persian version of the Early Arthritis for Psoriatic Patients (P-EARP) questionnaire. A total of 100 psoriasis patients responded to the questionnaire after the translation procedure (translation, back translation). After determining the validity of the questionnaire, the diagnostic accuracy of the P-EARP questionnaire was assessed using the ROC curve (receiver operating characteristic curve). Internal and external reliability of the questionnaire were also evaluated by statistical tests. In assessing the reliability of the questionnaire using test-retest, correlation coefficient (r=0.994, p <0.001) and Cronbach's alpha (α = 0.85) were obtained. The P-EARP questionnaire had a sensitivity and specificity of 90.48% and 96.55% in ROC analysis, respectively, and cutoff point 3 was regarded as the cutoff point of the P-EARP questionnaire like the original version of the questionnaire (EARP). The results of this study showed that the P-EARP questionnaire had high sensitivity and specificity for the identification of psoriatic arthritis. The P-EARP questionnaire is an appropriate screening tool for the identification of psoriatic arthritis in the dermatology clinics.

Diagnosis of subclinical psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis using CASPAR criteria: a sonographic study

BackgroundWe aimed at screening for subclinical psoriatic arthritis (PsA) among psoriatic patients without musculoskeletal complaints using ultrasonography of the lower limbs and finding the best predictor for its development.ResultsSubclinical inflammatory articular affection was found by ultrasound in 33 patients, among whom 26 had psoriatic nail affection. According to CASPAR criteria, those 26 patients could be diagnosed as PsA (subclinical). The only statistically significant difference between psoriatic patients with PsA and those without was the mean quadriceps tendon thickness as well as the presence of enthesophytes and bilateral quadriceps thickening. The best and only predictor for subclinical PsA was the presence of enthesophytes.ConclusionUltrasound was more sensitive than clinical examination in detecting subclinical psoriatic arthritis which is highly prevalent in patients with psoriasis even in the absence of manifest arthritic complaints. The best and only predictor for subclinical PsA was the presence of enthesophytes.

Specialty Pharmacy Disease Screening and Routine Assessments for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis are inflammatory diseases which require frequent monitoring to optimize therapy. Specialty pharmacists are in the unique position to assist in the screening and monitoring of patients with complex, chronic diseases. Objectives: The study objective is to describe the impact of pharmacist screening services in two patient populations. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the goal is to describe outcome monitoring through disease severity, therapeutic switches, and adherence rates. In patients with psoriasis, the aim is to describe the utilization of a screening for psoriatic arthritis and the resulting number of potential referrals to medical providers. Methods: The retrospective study patient population consisted of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who filled one or more prescriptions at a specialty pharmacy between 8/22/2017 and 9/26/2018, and psoriasis patients who filled between 6/1/2021 to 9/1/2021. A Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) score was collected during a refill coordination call every three months throughout the 13-month period for RA patients, and a Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST) scores reported throughout the stated timeline.1,2 Data was imported from the pharmacy’s electronic medical record into an Excel spreadsheet with each row representing a unique patient. Following data validation, descriptive statistics including means, standard deviations, and percentages were calculated to characterize the sample. Statistical significance was determined at an alpha of 0.05. Results: Of the patients who had 4 assessments for RAPID3, the disease severity category significantly improved from assessment 1 to assessment 4 (p=0.021) when analyzed using a chi-square test. The RAPID3 assessment of patients with RA by pharmacists in a specialty setting identified responders (n=21, 25.6%) and stable patients (n=51, 63%), which reinforces current therapy, and non-responders (n=10, 12.2%), who may benefit from referral to their provider for reevaluation of their therapeutic plan. The PEST screening of patients with psoriasis by pharmacists in a specialty setting identified 11 of 32 patients (34%) who scored a 3 or higher and who may benefit from a referral to a rheumatologist for further assessment of psoriatic arthritis activity. Conclusion: Specialty pharmacists are an essential part of ongoing assessment and management of patients with chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Screening and monitoring of patients by pharmacists can identify the need for referral to a medical provider.

Comparative Efficacy of Different Triage Methods for Psoriatic Arthritis: Results From a Prospective Study in a Rapid Access Clinic.

We undertook this study to identify the optimal combination of triage methods to identify psoriatic arthritis (PsA) among psoriasis patients with musculoskeletal symptoms in a rapid access clinic and to describe their outcome after 1 year. Patients with psoriasis and no prior diagnosis of PsA were referred for assessment of their musculoskeletal symptoms. Each patient was assessed by the following 3 triage modalities: 1) assessment by an advanced practice physical therapist; 2) targeted musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US); and 3) PsA screening questionnaires. The patients were then evaluated by a rheumatologist who determined the patient's disease status and classified them into the following groups: not PsA, possibly PsA, or PsA. Patients returned for a 1-year follow-up visit and were reassessed for change in their disease status. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each individual modality, as well as for combinations of modalities. A total of 203 patients with psoriasis and musculoskeletal symptoms were enrolled. The percentage of patients classified as having PsA was 8.8%, and 23.6% were converted into the possibly PsA group. There was no significant difference in the individual performance of the modalities. The highest sensitivity was seen with MSK-US (89%), and the highest specificity was found with the Psoriatic Arthritis Screening and Evaluation questionnaire (79%). The addition of MSK-US data improved the performance of the modalities. A total of 9 patients were classified into the PsA group after 1 year. All patient-reported outcome measures had significantly improved at 1 year (P < 0.001). Combining MSK-US with a screening questionnaire for PsA improved the triage of patients with suspected PsA.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool for the detection of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis.

The Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST) is a simple and useful questionnaire designed to screen arthritis in patients with psoriasis. This study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of the PEST questionnaire in Turkish patients with psoriasis. Between August 2019 and September 2019, a total of 158 adult patients with psoriasis (61 males, 68 females; mean age: 43.1±13.3 years; range, 29.8 to 56.4 years) who were not previously diagnosed with PsA were included. The testing procedure for translation and cultural adaptation was carried out according to the following steps: preparation, forward translation, reconciliation, back-translation/back-translation review, harmonization, finalization, and proofreading. Patients' demographic parameters, comorbidities, PEST, and Toronto Psoriatic Arthritis Screen (ToPAS 2) results were recorded. The patients were, then, assessed by a rheumatologist who was blinded to their PEST scores. The diagnosis of PsA was made according to the Classification criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was assessed to obtain the sensitivity and specificity of the PEST questionnaire. Of the patients, 42 had PsA, while 87 did not. Each parameter of PEST showed a low-high internal consistency ranging from 0.366 to 0.781. When the Question 3 was excluded, Cronbach alpha value increased to 0.866. The Cronbach alpha value of the whole scale was 0.829. The test-retest reliability of the Turkish version of PEST was determined as 0.86 for the total score (ICC=0.866 95% CI: 0.601-0.955; p<0.0001). There was a strong positive correlation between PEST and ToPAS 2 (r=0.763; p<0.001) and a moderate positive correlation between PEST and CASPAR (r=0.455; p<0.001). A cut-off value of ≥3 yielded a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 89% for the diagnosis of PsA with the highest Youden's index. The PEST scale was found to have a higher sensitivity, but lower specificity in the head-to-head comparison with ToPAS 2. The Turkish version of PEST is a reliable and valid tool for screening PsA in Turkish patients with psoriasis.

Assessment of four screening tools and retrieval of key questions to detect undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis in Chinese patients with psoriasis: A multicenter study.

Several screening tools have been developed to facilitate early diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA); however, their performance varied greatly across different studies. In this study, we validated and compared the performance of four screening tools in detecting undiagnosed PsA Chinese patients with psoriasis, and determined the key questions and their weights. The four screening tools were the Early Arthritis for Psoriatic Patients (EARP) questionnaire, Psoriatic Arthritis Screening and Evaluation (PASE) questionnaire, Psoriasis and Arthritis Screening Questionnaire (PASQ), and Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST). The receiver-operator curve (ROC) with area under curve (AUC) was used to determine sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and logistic regression were utilized to retrieve key questions, and a nomogram was utilized to visualize their weights. Of 482 psoriasis patients from dermatology clinics, 77 were newly diagnosed with PsA. Another 68 patients with newly diagnosed PsA from rheumatology clinics were incorporated in the analysis. ROC analysis indicated that the optimal cut-off values for EARP, PASE, PASQ, and PEST were 3, 40, 7, and 3, with corresponding sensitivities of 91.4%, 88.6%, 86.2%, and 88.5%, and specificities of 88.6%, 75.2%, 80.2%, and 83.6%, respectively. The AUC of EARP (0.925) was higher than those of PASE (0.885), PASQ (0.905), and PEST (0.827). However, none of them were sufficiently sensitive to identify pure axial PsA (sensitivities of EARP, PASQ, and PASE were 25.0%, 36.8%, and 42.1%, respectively). Twelve key questions were retrieved from these four tools to establish a nomogram with a high discrimination (C-index=0.993) and a good calibration (mean absolute error=0.014). In conclusion, to screen undiagnosed PsA, EARP has slightly better balanced sensitivity and specificity, and higher accuracy. The retrieval of key questions and nomogram signify the necessity of attributing different scores to differently weighted questions when developing a new screening tool to make it function more efficiently.

A Joint Consensus of Rheumatologists and Dermatologists on Early Detection and Effective Management of Psoriatic Arthritis: India's Perspective.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with clinical manifestations, including inflammatory arthritis and the presence of psoriasis (PsO). The present consensus statement evaluated the early diagnosis and treatment approaches in the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis by rheumatologists and dermatologists. For PAN India representation, a panel of eight rheumatologists and five dermatologists from different institutes in India were constituted. These thirteen experts were divided into two groups (rheumatologists group and dermatologist group) who received a set of questionnaires each for diagnosis and treatment approaches in the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Based on the responses received, a panel discussion took place, where the experts identified the early diagnostic criteria for PsA considering: Clinical signs and symptoms, and questionnaire-based PsA screening, which includes Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST) for dermatologists and Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) for rheumatologists. The experts also recommended shift from conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to biologics like secukinumab, when there is extensive skin involvement and TNF inhibitors when there is extensive joint involvement. Overall, the objective of the consensus was to assist rheumatologists and dermatologists in the early diagnosis and management of patients of PsA and PsO in their clinical practice.