Rheumatoid Arthritis Care Research Articles

Systematic Review of Outcomes and Patient Experience With Virtual Care in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

To conduct a systematic review on patient outcomes of virtual care compared to conventional care in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including disease activity and patient experience. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed from database inception to March 19, 2020. Observational and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) describing the use of RA virtual care supplanting conventional visits and reporting on disease activity and/or patient experience were included. A narrative synthesis of results was conducted, as a meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity of study designs and outcome reporting. A total of 352 studies were identified, and 6 were selected for final inclusion: 3 RCTs and 3 observational studies. Disease activity and patient experience were comparable between virtual and conventional care models. In addition, 1 RCT found no difference in observed outcomes between virtual care delivered by a rheumatologist and by a rheumatology nurse. Virtual care was found to have additional benefits for improved treatment adherence, maintenance of functional status, and quality of life. The overall risk of bias was low in 2 of 3 RCTs, but high in the observational studies. Study quality was limited by incomplete data reporting, lack of sample size justification, and sufficient timeframe to assess objectives. Limited evidence exists that virtual RA care is an acceptable alternative to conventional care, maintaining comparable patient outcomes and experience of care. Additional research into effective implementation strategies and long-term health system and patient outcomes of virtual care are needed.

Culturally sensitive care of Misak Indigenous patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Colombia

To describe and understand the attitudes, cultural knowledge, and therapeutic practices of the Misak people concerning rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inscribed in an emergent culturally sensitive healthcare model along with the indigenous community and health professionals, following a respectful and empathic relational contact approach to the inter-ethnic encounter. A qualitative study that used ethnographic methods using observation techniques and in-depth interviews was carried out in the Misak community, Colombia, by a multidisciplinary team (rheumatology, physiotherapy, and anthropology). A thematic analysis based around the concept of explanatory models (EMs) was carried out. Researchers interviewed 20 patients with RA, 12 traditional healers, and 5 health professionals. The following themes were identified: (1) the traditional healers are allowed to practice only if the community recognizes their vocation; (2) two types of EM were observed: Misak community EM related to conception of RA and its treatment, shared by patients and the traditional healers; and biomedical EM. The interaction of the two types is still a healthcare challenge that requires articulating to achieve better clinical outcomes for patients. The EMs of RA care identified in the Misak community are focused on both the patients and the traditional healers. However, this predominant EM and the biomedical EM of RA care need to be brought closer together to contribute to the construction of a unifying model of a culturally sensitive care.

P089 Patient-reported outcome measures for rheumatoid arthritis disease activity: a systematic review following COSMIN guidelines

Abstract Background/Aims The standard measurement instruments for assessing Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) disease activity (DA) are the Disease Activity Score with 28-Joint Count, Simple Disease Activity Index and Clinical Disease Activity Index, which all require a laboratory test and a joint count undertaken by a health care professional. The current standard of care in RA is “Treat-to-Target”, in which regular assessment of RA DA is an integral part. Few healthcare providers have the capacity to assess patients as frequently as stipulated by NICE or EULAR guidelines and thus treatment is not adjusted sufficiently. The SARS-COV-2 pandemic has made the problem more conspicuous with remote rather than face-to-face consultations. Previous research has suggested that Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are the most informative way to assess RA DA, and that they allow for a more efficient use of NHS resource. We therefore aimed to assess all PROMs for RA DA against the internationally recognised COSMIN guidelines for rating PROMs. Methods PROSPERO registered as CRD42020176176. This review built on a previous systematic review in the same area, with the PubMed and EMBASE searches expanded to include all articles up to January 2019 (rather than the previous June 2014 date) and those before January 1994. Some articles from the previous review were excluded as they involved biomarker and/or healthcare professional assessments. All identified articles were rated by two independent researchers, where identified PROMs were assessed for Content validity, Quality of Measurement property and related Risk of bias following the COSMIN guidelines, leading to recommendations for use. Results 702 abstracts were retrieved: 310 from both PubMed and EMBASE, 230 from PubMed alone and 162 from EMBASE alone. 34 from the previous review were given full article review, of which 21 were included in the final selection. Of the remaining 668, 128 were selected for abstract review; 58 for full article review; and 10 for the final selection, giving 31 articles in total. 10 PROMs were identified: RADAI, RADAI-SF, RADAI5, PDAS2, PAS, PAS-II, RAPID3, RAPID4, PRO-CLARA and GAS. Following the application of COSMIN guidelines to these 31 articles, none of the identified PROMs could be recommended for use, as none had sufficient evidence for content validity. 5 PROMs had the potential to be recommended but the other five could not be recommended. Conclusion The lack of content validity is a major drawback for these PROMs, but it is worth noting that all of these were developed before the COSMIN guidelines were created, and COSMIN have only recently updated their guidelines to increase the relevance of content validity. A 2019 American College of Rheumatology review recommended two of the identified PROMs based on different criteria. Future research on PROMs for RA DA must look to evidence content validity. Disclosure T. Pickles: None. M. Horton: None. K. Christensen: None. R. Phillips: None. D. Gillespie: None. R. Macefield: None. O. Aiyegbusi: None. C. Beecher: None. E. Choy: None.

Healthcare Professionals' Compliance with the Standard Management Guidelines towards the Use of Biological Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is complicated, with numerous aspects influencing decision-making, including disease severity, comorbidities, and patient preferences. The present study aimed to evaluate healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) knowledge of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and their compliance with the standard management guidelines for assuring optimal RA therapy. The cross-sectional, survey-based study was performed in various healthcare and academic settings in Karachi, Pakistan to probe HCPs’ knowledge of bDMARDs and their compliance with the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the management of RA patients. Overall, n = 413 questionnaires were included in our study (response rate: 82.6%). The physicians were further well-informed about the indications (n = 276, 91.3%, p = 0.001) and monitoring requirements (n = 258, 85.4%, p = 0.004). The pharmacists were more knowledgeable about the drug targets (n = 96, 86.4%, p = 0.029) and their mechanisms of action (n = 80, 72.0%, p = 0.013). Male respondents as compared with females (41.3% vs. 35.6%, p = 0.04), and physicians as compared with pharmacists (40.7% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.012), were more confident in using bDMARDs than conventional treatment in RA patients. Our findings show that the respondents were familiar with the attributes of bDMARDs and the standard management guidelines for RA care. Our results may be relevant in creating new methods, guidelines, and treatments to enhance RA treatment adherence, satisfaction, and health outcomes.

Development and testing of the rheumatoid arthritis quality of care survey

ObjectivesThe Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Quality of Care Survey (RAQCS) was developed to measure care quality according to a previously developed national RA quality improvement framework. MethodsThe development of the RAQCS occurred over 3 phases. First, the survey was developed by a team of healthcare providers, researchers, and two patient partners based on the existing national quality framework's 21 performance measures (PMs) and strategic objectives. Second, cognitive debriefing interviews were conducted with individuals living with RA to identify survey clarity, appropriateness of survey questions, and response options. Third, the survey was revised and distributed to participants recruited from Rheum4U (rheumatology longitudinal cohort). Results were tabulated and compared with a chart audit of participant medical records. ResultsFifty-three participants completed the RAQCS. High performance (i.e., ≥70% meeting PM) was observed for 13 of 20 PMs. Lower performance was seen for the remaining PMs, which included documentation of body mass index (BMI) and smoking status, discussion of physical activity goals, comorbidity management including risk assessments for cardiovascular health and fragility fractures and disease activity assessment. There was high agreement (≥70%) between the RAQCS and chart review for 9 of 20 PMs. ConclusionsHigh agreement was observed between the RAQCS and chart review for selected PMs. The RAQCS may also be a valuable tool for quality improvement for measures where data are not usually available through other sources. Further testing of the RAQCS is needed to ascertain its reliability and validity as a patient self-reported tool to measure RA care quality.

Identifying Minimal and Meaningful Change in a Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Use of Multiple Methods and Perspectives.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is chronic, painful, disabling condition resulting in significant impairments in physical, emotional, and social health. Our objective was to use different methods and perspectives to evaluate the responsiveness of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) short forms (SFs) and to identify minimal and meaningful score changes. Adults with RA who were enrolled in a multisite prospective observational cohort completed PROMIS physical function, pain interference, fatigue, and participation in social roles/activities SFs, the PROMIS 29-item form (PROMIS-29), and pain and patient global assessment, and rated change in specific symptoms and RA (a little versus lot better or worse) at the second visit. Physicians recorded joint counts, physician global assessment, and change in RA at visit 2. We compared mean score differences for minimal and meaningful improvement/worsening using patient and physician change ratings and distribution-based methods, and we visually inspected empirical cumulative distribution function curves by change categories. The 348 adults were mostly female (81%) with longstanding RA. Using patient ratings, generally 1-3-point differences were observed for minimal change and 3-7 points for meaningful change. Larger differences were observed with patient versus physician ratings and for symptom-specific versus RA change. Mean differences were similar among SF versions. Prespecified hypotheses about change in PROMIS physical function, pain interference, fatigue, and participation and legacy scales were supported. PROMIS SFs and the PROMIS-29 profiles are responsive to change and generally distinguish between minimal and meaningful improvement and worsening in key RA domains. These data add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating the robust psychometric properties of PROMIS and supporting its use in RA care, research, and decision-making.

Guideline-based Treatment of Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective Study with the AORA Registry.

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is one of the side effects associated with glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. In 2014, the Japanese Society for Bone and Mineral Research (JSBMR) provided new guidelines for the management and treatment of GIOP. The aim of the present study was to clarify the prevalence of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) requiring treatment according to the new guidelines and to identify risk factors associated with lack of treatment in these patients. Patients in the 2018 Akita Orthopedic group on Rheumatoid Arthritis (AORA) database were enrolled. Of 2,234 patients with RA in the database, 683 (30.6%) met the 2014 JSBMR guideline treatment criteria, and 480 (70.3%) had been treated. The untreated group included a larger number of males, younger patients, and patients treated in clinics rather than hospital (p<0.001, p=0.015, and p<0.001, respectively). Multivariate analyses found that male sex, younger age, and clinic-based RA care were significant risk factors associated with lack of treatment (p<0.001, p=0.013, and p<0.001, respectively). Thus, male sex, younger age, and clinic-based care were identified as risk factors.

Remission is not maintained over 2 years with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUNDHematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation (HSCT) is being accepted as a standard of care in various inflammatory diseases. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been closely evolving with the understanding of disease pathogenesis. With the rising resistance to the traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and targeted biological therapy, researchers are in pursuit of other methods for disease management. Since the ultimate goal of the ideal treatment of RA is to restore immune tolerance, HSCT attracts much attention considering its reparative, paracrine, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, a systematic review of studies on HSCT in RA is lacking.AIMTo investigate the role of HSCT in the management of RA.METHODSA detailed search of PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane, and the Web of Science databases was made to identify the relevant articles till September 2020 following Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. We extracted data including the number of patients, source of hematopoietic stem cells, their mobilization and conditioning regimens, results, and complications from the eligible studies. Results were dichotomized into success (ACR 50/70) and failure (ACR 20) based on the improvement from baseline characteristics. The methodological quality of the included studies was also assessed. Analysis was performed using OpenMeta[Analysis] software. RESULTSWe included 17 studies (1 randomized controlled trial, 11 prospective, and 5 retrospective studies) with 233 patients for analysis. HSCT provided a significantly beneficial overall improvement in the clinical grades of ACR criteria (Z = 11.309, P < 0.001). However, the remission was noted only till 24 mo and later on the significance of the result was lost (Z = 1.737, P = 0.082). A less than 1% treatment-related mortality was noted from the included studies. No major drug-related toxicities were noted in any of the included studies. All patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT received immunosuppression in the conditioning regimen to counteract the graft-vs-host reaction which made them vulnerable to infections. It is noted that the source of hematopoietic stem cells did not play a role in altering the functional outcome and both autologous (Z = 9.972, P < 0.001) and allogenic (Z = 6.978, P < 0.001) sources produced significant improvement in the outcome compared to the pre-operative state despite having a significant heterogeneity among the studies reporting them (I2 = 99.4, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONAlthough the available literature is encouraging towards the use of HSCT in refractory cases with significant improvement from baseline till 2 years, the inclusion of HSCT into the standard of care of RA needs further exploration.

The Relationship Between Electronic Health Record System and Performance on Quality Measures in the American College of Rheumatology's Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) Registry: Observational Study.

BackgroundRoutine collection of disease activity (DA) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are nationally endorsed quality measures and critical components of a treat-to-target approach. However, little is known about the role electronic health record (EHR) systems play in facilitating performance on these measures.ObjectiveUsing the American College Rheumatology’s (ACR’s) RISE registry, we analyzed the relationship between EHR system and performance on DA and functional status (FS) quality measures.MethodsWe analyzed data collected in 2018 from practices enrolled in RISE. We assessed practice-level performance on quality measures that require DA and FS documentation. Multivariable linear regression and zero-inflated negative binomial models were used to examine the independent effect of EHR system on practice-level quality measure performance, adjusting for practice characteristics and patient case-mix.ResultsIn total, 220 included practices cared for 314,793 patients with RA. NextGen was the most commonly used EHR system (34.1%). We found wide variation in performance on DA and FS quality measures by EHR system (median 30.1, IQR 0-74.8, and median 9.0, IQR 0-74.2), respectively). Even after adjustment, NextGen practices performed significantly better than Allscripts on the DA measure (51.4% vs 5.0%; P<.05) and significantly better than eClinicalWorks and eMDs on the FS measure (49.3% vs 29.0% and 10.9%; P<.05).ConclusionsPerformance on national RA quality measures was associated with the EHR system, even after adjusting for practice and patient characteristics. These findings suggest that future efforts to improve quality of care in RA should focus not only on provider performance reporting but also on developing and implementing rheumatology-specific standards across EHRs.

Evaluation of a multidisciplinary care model to improve quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised controlled trial.

Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QOL) is an important patient-reported domain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The uptake of multidisciplinary team (MDT) care in RA is generally low, due to initial high demand for resources. We hypothesised that whilst pharmacological treatments are effective in controlling disease activity, a multipronged intervention in an MDT may have a positive impact on HR-QOL. This was a single-centre randomized parallel group, single-blind controlled trial of MDT vs. usual care in an established RA clinic. Data were collected through face-to-face questionnaires, medical records review, and joint counts by a blinded assessor at 0, 3 and 6months. Adult RA patients were randomly assigned in a single visit to a 6-member MDT (rheumatologist, nurse, social worker, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and podiatrist) or usual care. MDT providers prescribed medications and counselled patients on managing flares, medication adherence, coping, joint protection, exercise, footwear. The primary outcome was minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in HR-QOL (increase in European QOL-5-Dimension-3-Level, EQ-5D-3L by 0.1) at six months. 140 patients (86.3% female, 53.4% Chinese, median (IQR) age 56.6 (46.7, 62.4) years); 70 were randomized to each arm. Median (IQR) disease duration was 5.5 (2.4, 11.0) years and disease activity in 28 joints (DAS28) was 2.87 (2.08, 3.66). 123 patients completed the study. Twenty-six (40.6%) MDT vs. 23 (34.3%) usual care patients achieved an MCID in EQ-5D-3L, OR 1.3 (0.6, 2.7). In multivariable logistic regression, baseline EQ-5D-3L was the only predictor of achieving MCID. There was more disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug escalation in MDT (34.4% vs. 19.4%). Patients with high disease activity were more likely to achieve MCID in the MDT arm. A single visit by stable patients with low disease activity to an MDT failed to achieve MCID in the EQ-5D-3L; however, did achieve small but significant improvements in the EQ-5D-3L, DAS28, pain, coping and self-efficacy. To be sustainable, MDT care should be targeted at patients with high disease activity or those with a new diagnosis of RA. The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03099668.

Treatment response and several patient-reported outcomes are early determinants of future self-efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundSelf-efficacy, or patients’ confidence in their ability to control disease and its consequences, was recently prioritised in EULAR recommendations for inflammatory arthritis self-management strategies. However, it remains unclear which factors influence self-efficacy in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsData were analysed from the 2-year RCT Care in early RA (CareRA), which studied remission-induction treatment regimens for early RA. Participants completed the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES), Short-Form 36 (SF-36), Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), Utrecht Coping List (UCL), RAQoL and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Depending on time to first remission (DAS28-CRP < 2.6) and persistence of remission, treatment response was defined as persistent response, secondary failure, delayed response, late response or non-response. The association between ASES scores and clinical/psychosocial factors was explored with Spearman correlation and multivariate linear mixed models. Baseline predictors of week 104 ASES were identified with exploratory linear regression followed by multiple regression of significant predictors adjusted for DAS28-CRP, HAQ, treatment arm, treatment response, cumulative CRP/SJC28 and demographic/serologic confounders.ResultsAll 379 patients had a recent diagnosis of RA and were DMARD-naïve at study initiation. Most patients were women (69%) and RF/ACPA-positive (66%), and the mean (SD) age was 52 (13) years. For all tested outcome measures, better perceived health correlated with higher self-efficacy. While patient-reported factors (HAQ, SF-36, RAQoL, IPQ-R, pain, fatigue and patient’s global assessment) showed moderate/strong correlations with ASES scores, correlations with physician-reported factors (physician’s global assessment, SJC28), TJC28 and DAS28-CRP were weak.Only more favourable outcomes on patient-reported factors and DAS28-CRP were associated with higher ASES scores at each time point.An earlier, persistent treatment response predicted higher ASES scores at both weeks 52 and 104. Significant baseline predictors of week 104 ASES included HAQ; SF-36 mental component score, vitality, mental health and role emotional; IPQ-R illness coherence, treatment control, emotional representations and consequences; UCL Passive reacting; and the RAQoL.ConclusionsPatient-reported outcomes and treatment response were early determinants of long-term self-efficacy in an early RA trial. These results provide further relevance for the window of opportunity in an early treat-to-target strategy and could help to timely identify patients who might benefit from self-management interventions.Trial registrationEudraCT 2008-007225-39

Effects of a Weight and Pain Management Program in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis With Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Investigation.

Obesity is associated with poor outcomes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Effective weight management is imperative. Although traditional lifestyle behavioral weight loss programs have demonstrated efficacy for reducing weight, these interventions do not meet the pain-related weight loss challenges of RA patients with obesity. A 12-session group program (90 minutes per session) was developed integrating pain coping skills training into a lifestyle behavioral weight loss intervention. In addition to the weekly group sessions, participants engaged in supervised exercise sessions 3 times per week. Through a small, pilot randomized trial, 50 participants were randomized to receive the intervention (n = 29) or standard care of RA (n = 21). Feasibility data (i.e., accrual, attrition, adherence) was examined using descriptive statistics (e.g., percent). We examined patterns of change in study outcomes from baseline to follow-up separately for the intervention and standard care arms using descriptive statistics and paired t tests. Effect sizes are also presented. Of those randomized to the intervention group,79.3% initiated treatment, with participants attending 74.3% of group skills sessions and 64.2% of exercise sessions. Intervention participants evidenced reductions in weight (mean, -2.28 kg) and waist circumference (mean, -4.76 cm) and improvements in physical functioning, eating behaviors, pain, and self-efficacy for weight control. Findings suggest that incorporating a combined pain coping skills training and behavioral weight loss intervention into medical management of RA may improve outcomes. Study accrual and attrition, as well as intervention adherence, will inform future, larger randomized efficacy trials of the intervention.Retrospectively registered: January 29, 2020, NCT04246827.

Methotrexate treatment before use of biologics in rheumatoid arthritis : Analysis of guideline compliance

With the introduction of biologics the treatment landscape for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has rapidly expanded; however, according to German and European treatment guidelines the use of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) is only indicated after insufficient response under methotrexate (MTX) doses of at least 20 mg/week (first-line treatment). The aim of the study was to analyze the guideline compliance of MTX prescription in the outpatient sector prior to treatment with biologics. Claims data from the AOK Lower Saxony from 2013 to 2016 were provided for all insured patients with a diagnosis of RA and bDMARD prescription during the study period. Within apatient-specific observational period of 180days prior to the first bDMARD prescription, the maximum prescribed MTX dosage was examined. Data from 90incident and 315 prevalent RA patients were analyzed. Amaximum MTX prescription of < 20 mg/week was observed in 60.0% of incident patients and in 67.0% of prevalent patients. Men had ahigher mean MTX maximum dose (17.1 ± 4.8 mg) than women (14.9 ± 5.0 mg; p < 0.0001). Of the study population 29.6% received oral only prescriptions during the observational period. In 12.4% of patients aswitch to parenteral administration was made. Targeted use of the full spectrum of therapies provided prior to initiation of bDMARD treatment may contribute to cost-effective RA care. This study showed indications for potential deficits in outpatient MTX prescription practice and can raise awareness for efficient treatment.

The ideal mHealth-application for rheumatoid arthritis: qualitative findings from stakeholder focus groups

BackgroundShifts in treatment strategies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have made ambulatory care more labour-intensive. These developments have prompted innovative care models, including mobile health (mHealth) applications. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of mHealth-inexperienced stakeholders concerning these applications in RA care.MethodsWe performed a qualitative study by focus group interviews of stakeholders including RA patients, nurses specialised in RA care and rheumatologists. The qualitative analysis guide of Leuven (QUAGOL), which is based on grounded theory principles, was used to thematically analyse the data. In addition, the Persuasive Systems Design (PSD) model was used to structure recommended app-features.ResultsIn total, 2 focus groups with nurses (total n = 16), 2 with patients (n = 17) and 2 with rheumatologists (n = 25) took place. Six overarching themes emerged from the analysis. Efficiency of care and enabling patient empowerment were the two themes considered as expected benefits of mHealth-use in practice by the stakeholders. In contrast, 4 themes emerged as possible barriers of mHealth-use: the burden of chronic app-use, motivational aspects, target group aspects, and legal and organisational requirements. Additionally, recommendations for an ideal mHealth-app could be structured into 4 domains (Primary Task Support, Dialogue Support, Social Support and System Credibility) according to the PSD-framework. Most recommended features were related to improving ease of use (Task Support) and System Credibility.ConclusionsAlthough mHealth-apps were expected to improve care efficiency and stimulate patient empowerment, stakeholders were concerned that mHealth-app use could reinforce negative illness behaviour. For mHealth-apps to be successful in practice, challenges according to stakeholders were avoiding long-term poor compliance, finding the target audience and tailoring a legal and organisational framework. Finally, the ideal mHealth-application should above all be trustworthy and easy to use.

"It may help you to know…": The Early-phase Qualitative Development of a Rheumatoid Arthritis Goal Elicitation Tool.

Treatment guidelines for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) include a patient-centered approach and shared decision making, which includes a discussion of patient goals. We describe the iterative early development of a structured goal elicitation tool to facilitate goal communication for persons with RA and their clinicians. Tool development occurred in 3 phases: (1) clinician feedback on the initial prototype during a communication training session; (2) semistructured interviews with RA patients; and (3) community stakeholder feedback on elements of the goal elicitation tool in a group setting and electronically. Feedback was dynamically incorporated into the tool. Clinicians (n = 15) and patients (n = 10) provided feedback on the tool prototypes. Clinicians preferred a shorter tool deemphasizing goals outside of their perceived treatment domain or available resources; they highlighted the benefits of the tool to facilitate conversation but raised concerns regarding current constraints of the clinic visit. Patients endorsed the utility of such a tool to support agenda setting and preparing for a visit. Clinicians, patients, and community stakeholders reported the tool was useful but identified barriers to implementation that the tool could itself resolve. A goal elicitation tool for persons with RA and their clinicians was iteratively developed with feedback from multiple stakeholders. The tool can provide a structured way to communicate patient goals within a clinic visit and help overcome reported barriers such as time constraints. Incorporating a structured communication tool to enhance goal communication and foster shared decision making may lead to improved outcomes and higher-quality care in RA.

Centers of Excellence Implementation for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis in Colombia: A Cost-Analysis.

BackgroundHealth systems need to optimize the use of resources, especially in high-cost diseases as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to evaluate the efficiency of using centers of excellence (CoE) as a strategy for improving RA treatment in Colombia.MethodsA cost description analysis was carried out using the standard costing technique. We estimated the costs of medical consultations, laboratories, images, and medications for RA. Categories of care standards stratified by severity were defined using the disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28). We evaluated the impact, in terms of costs (US dollars), for providing RA clinical care for a previously described cohort using the CoE approach. Statistical analyses were performed in Microsoft Excel®, and R.ResultsExpenditure on therapeutic drugs increases as the severity of RA increases. Drugs represent 53.6% of the total cost for the low disease activity (LDA) stage, 75.2% for moderate disease activity (MDA), 88.5% for severe disease activity (SDA) and 97% for SDA with biologic treatment (SDA+Biologic). Treating 968 patients would cost US$612,639 (US$487,978–1,220,160) at baseline, per year. After a year of follow-up at the CoE, treating the same patients would cost US$388,765 (US$321,710–708,476), which implies potential cost-savings of up to US$223,874 per year.ConclusionThe strategy of providing clinical care for RA through CoE can save US$231.3 per patient-per year. The results of our study show that CoE could greatly impact the public policies dealing with treatment of RA in Colombia. Applying the CoE model in our country would both improve health outcomes, as well as being more efficient in terms of costs.

PHARMACOECONOMIC APPROACHES FOR PHARMACOTHERAPY OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Introduction. With the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the role of pharmacotherapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) among patients with dual health disorders and in patients with systemic diseases is growing. This article is devoted to pharmacoeconomic for the pharmacotherapy of RA based on ABC/VEN analysis. Materials and methods. International and national medical and technological documents on standardization of medical care of RA, as well as scientific sources were used for regulatory, documentary and pharmacoeconomic analysis. ABC analysis was performed as a tool to study the cost of purchasing drugs. VEN analysis was performed to classify drugs into categories V, E and N on the principles of evidence-based medicine, forensic pharmacy, evidence-based pharmacy. Results. On the first stage of the research was conducted clinical and pharmacological analysis, the next stages - marketing and pharmacoeconomic analysis. Based on the ABC/VEN analysis, a matrix of the consolidated ABC/VEN analysis was developed. Discussion. The largest share (66.7 %) falls on the ATC classification code L "Antineoplastic and immunomodulatory agents". According to the results of marketing analysis tablets occupy 50 % of doctors' appointments; 75 % of the studied drugs have an unlimited validity of registration certificates. Ranking of country of origin of manufacturers of studied drugs: Germany – 37.6 %. Category A included five drugs’ INN (Mycophenolic acid, Azathioprine, Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, Ciclosporine), the cost of one dose is 5241.1 UAH, which is 78.12 % of the total cost of treatment for a patient with RA. It was found that six drugs INN (Methotrexate, Sulfasalazine, Hydroxychloroquine, Azathioprine, Ciclosporine, Cyclophosphamide) belong to category V (Vital). Conclusion. The introduction of information about pharmacoeconomic for pharmacotherapy of RA in the activities of health care institutions will ensure proper organization of the order of drug circulation at the stages of prescribing, prescribing, storage, accounting, quality control, transportation, release, destruction, licensing in accordance with current medical and pharmaceutical legislation.

Supporting Equity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Outcomes in Canada: Population-specific Factors in Patient-centered Care.

Health equity considerations have not been incorporated into prior Canadian Rheumatology Association guidelines. Our objective was to identify the challenges and possible solutions to mitigate threats to health equity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) care in Canada. A consultation process informed selection of priority populations, determined to be rural and remote, Indigenous, elderly with frailty, first-generation immigrant and refugee, low income and vulnerably housed, and diverse gender and sex populations. Semistructured interviews were completed with patients with lived experience, healthcare providers, and equity-oriented researchers. These interviews probed on population factors, initial and ongoing healthcare access issues, and therapeutic considerations influencing RA care. Known or proposed solutions to mitigate inequities during implementation of service models for the population group were requested. The research team used a phenomenological thematic analysis model and mapped the data into a logic model. Solutions applicable to several population groups were proposed. Thirty-five interviews were completed to identify realities for each population in accessing RA care. Five themes emerged as primary solutions to population-based inequities, including actively improving the patient-practitioner relationship, increasing accessibility and coordination of care through alternative models of care, upholding autonomy in treatment selection while actively addressing logistical barriers and individualized therapy needs, collaborating with health supports valued by the patient, and being advocates for policy change and health system restructuring to ensure appropriate resource redistribution. The challenges for populations facing inequities in rheumatology care and promising solutions should inform guideline development and implementation, policy change, and health system restructuring.

Characterisation of depressive symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with tocilizumab during routine daily care.

To assess whether tocilizumab treatment is associated with changes in depression symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during routine daily care. We retrospectively analysed data from a German non-interventional study (ARATA) of adult, tocilizumab-naïve RA patients who initiated subcutaneous tocilizumab and were followed for 52 weeks. The Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) was used to assess symptoms of depression and create baseline subgroups of no (BDI-II<14), mild (14-19), moderate (20-28), and severe (≥29) depression. Other key outcomes included Disease Activity Score-28 joints (DAS28), patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and adverse events. Mixed model repeated measures (MMRM) assessed the impact of DAS28 on BDI-II over time, and Pearson correlation analyses evaluated associations between changes from baseline. Of 474/1155 ARATA patients who completed the BDI-II at baseline, 47.7% had evidence of depression: 18.4% mild, 17.7% moderate, and 11.6% severe. 229 patients (48.3%) completed the BDI-II at both baseline and week 52. Two-thirds of patients with moderate or severe depression at baseline improved to a milder or no depression subgroup at week 52 (44/65 [67.7%]). Improvements in disease activity and PROs were observed in all subgroups, but patients with depression had lower response and higher adverse events rates. We observed an association between DAS28 and BDI-II over time in MMRM analyses, but the Pearson correlation for change from baseline was weak (r=0.10). Depression is common in patients receiving routine care for RA. Improvements in depressive symptoms in RA during tocilizumab therapy appear to be distinct from changes in disease activity.

Oral Health in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Listening to Patients.

Rates of periodontal disease and tooth loss are increased in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Understanding factors that contribute to the increased burden of periodontal disease in RA is critical to improving oral health and arthritis outcomes. To determine the perceptions held by people with RA relating to their oral health, to identify patient-centered priorities for oral health research, and to inform optimal strategies for delivering oral health knowledge. Semistructured interviews were conducted with patients with RA. Recorded interview transcripts were iteratively reviewed to reveal surface and latent meaning and to code for themes. Constructs were considered saturated when no new themes were identified in subsequent interviews. We report themes with representative quotes. Interviews were conducted with 11 individuals with RA (10 women [91%]; mean age, 68 y), all of whom were taking RA medication. Interviews averaged 19 min (range, 8 to 31 min) and were mostly conducted face-to-face. Three overall themes were identified: 1) knowledge about arthritis and oral health links; 2) oral health care in RA is complicated, both in personal hygiene practices and in professional oral care; and 3) poor oral health is a source of shame. Participants preferred to receive oral health education from their rheumatologists or dentists. People with RA have unique oral health perceptions and experience significant challenges with oral health care due to their arthritis. Adapting oral hygiene recommendations and professional oral care delivery to the needs of those with arthritis are patient priorities and are required to improve satisfaction regarding their oral health. Patients living with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis described poor oral health-related quality of life and multiple challenges with maintaining optimal oral health. Study findings indicate a need for educational materials addressing oral health maintenance for patients with rheumatic diseases and their providers.