Guillermo A Guaracha-Basáñez, Irazú Contreras-Yáñez, Ana B Ortiz Haro, Virginia Pascual-Ramos
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: The help-seeking process in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is challenging, and its study is limited in Latin America. The study describes the real-life journey before patients' incorporation into an early arthritis clinic (EAC) and its impact on baseline and 1-year cumulative disease activity levels.
Patients and methods: The patient's journey was assessed through a questionnaire that captured the patient's path from the first disease-related symptom to the initial assessment in the EAC. A disease activity (28 joints evaluated)-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) score >5.1 defined a high-disease activity level. The mean of individual consecutive DAS28-ESR scores summarized cumulative DAS28-ESR. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with a DAS28-ESR score >5.1 at the first assessment. Linear regression analysis assessed the impact of general practitioner (GP)-first consultant and time on disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) on baseline and cumulative DAS28-ESR scores.
Results: Through January 2023, the EAC had 241 RA patients, among whom 209 (86.7%) completed the patients' journey questionnaire (PJQ) and 176 (84.2%) at least 1 year of follow-up. A GP was the first consultant in 76.6% of the patients, and only 12.4% were prescribed DMARDs. Patients had additional evaluations with either rheumatologists (38.6%) or other specialists (31.6%), and half of them were initiated DMARDs. GP-first consultant (adjusted odds ratio: 2.314, 95% confidence interval: 1.190-4.500, p = 0.013) and time on DMARDs (adjusted odds ratio: 0.738, 95% confidence interval: 0.585-0.929, p = 0.010) were associated with baseline DAS28-ESR score >5.1. The B coefficient magnitudes for GP-first consultant and time on DMARDs to predict cumulative DAS28 progressively decreased during the first year of follow-up.
Conclusions: Patients' journey before recent-onset RA diagnosis predicts first-year disease activity levels.
期刊介绍：
JCR: Journal of Clinical Rheumatology the peer-reviewed, bimonthly journal that rheumatologists asked for. Each issue contains practical information on patient care in a clinically oriented, easy-to-read format. Our commitment is to timely, relevant coverage of the topics and issues shaping current practice. We pack each issue with original articles, case reports, reviews, brief reports, expert commentary, letters to the editor, and more. This is where you''ll find the answers to tough patient management issues as well as the latest information about technological advances affecting your practice.
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