The use and context of the term 'multimorbidity' in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic literature review

Multimorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis: common mechanistic links and impact and challenges in routine clinical practice

Early identification and management of multimorbidity in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), such as RA, is an integral, but often neglected, aspect of care. The prevalence and incidence of conditions such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease and malignancies, often co-existing with RA, continues to have significant implications for the management of this patient group. Multimorbidity in RMDs can be associated with inflammatory disease activity and target organ damage. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking and inactivity, further contribute to the burden of disease. Inflammation is the underlying factor, not just in RA but also many comorbidities. The current framework of a treat-to-target approach focuses on achieving early remission and inflammatory activity suppression. We describe how the comorbidity burden in people with RMDs impacts on disease outcome and treatment response. The importance of addressing comorbidity at an early stage and adopting a patient centred approach is critical in modern practice.

The Multimorbidity Web in rheumatoid arthritis

Multimorbidity, the presence of multiple chronic conditions, is highly prevalent in people with RA. An essential characteristic of multimorbidity is the interrelatedness of the different conditions that may develop in a multimorbid person. Recent studies have begun to identify and describe the Multimorbidity Web by elucidating unique multimorbidity patterns in people with RA. The primary multimorbidity patterns in this web are cardiopulmonary, cardiometabolic, and mental health and chronic pain multimorbidity. Once caught in the Multimorbidity Web, the consequences can be devastating, with reduced quality of life, physical function, survival, and treatment responses observed in multimorbid RA persons. The development of effective management and preventive approaches for multimorbidity in people with RA is in its infancy. Determining how best to assess, intervene, and prevent multimorbidity in RA is crucial to optimize long-term outcomes in people with RA.

Health inequalities and social determinants of health: The role of syndemics in rheumatic disease

A syndemic is the co-existence of two or more health problems (including both social and biological features) that adversely influence each other with negative consequences on disease outcomes and perpetuation of inequalities. The syndemic approach can be applied to better understand the course of rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) involving the study of adverse biological pathways and social determinants of health (SDH) all under the same framework. Identifying if a syndemic exists within RMDs may include investigating the synergic interactions between comorbidity (e.g., diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney diseases) and the concomitant of other adverse conditions (e.g., drug non-adherence, substance abuse), along with SDHs such as low household income, unemployment, low education, limited access to health care, as well as racial/ethnic discrimination. For decades, the understanding of RMDs progression has been based on causality, rather than investigating the kaleidoscopic web of connections that can potentially influence a disease course. The co-existence of health burdens in vulnerable populations, including those with RMD, specifically in certain socioeconomic groups, calls for new ways and strategies of thinking to improve our understanding of risk factors and co-morbidities to offer tailored interventions for clinical medicine and public health policy.

Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiac Imaging in Inflammatory Arthritis

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are more prevalent in inflammatory arthritis (IA) compared to the general population. Recognizing the importance of addressing this issue, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) published guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management in IA in 2016, with plans to update going forward based on the latest emerging evidence. Herein we review the latest evidence on cardiovascular disease in IA, taking a focus on rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondylarthritis, reflecting on the scale of the problem and imaging modalities to identify disease. Evidence demonstrates that both traditional CVD factors and inflammation contribute to the higher CVD burden. Whereas CVD has decreased with the newer anti-rheumatic treatments currently available, CVD continues to remain an important comorbidity in IA patients calling for prompt screening and management of CVD and related risk factors. Non-invasive cardiovascular imaging has been attracting much attention in view of the possibility of detecting cardiovascular lesions in IA accurately and promptly, even at the pre-clinical stage. We reflect on imaging modalities to screen for CVD in IA and on the important role of rheumatologists and cardiologists working closely together.

Multimorbidity status and annual healthcare expenditures of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a Dutch hospital-centered versus population-based comparison

The prevalence of multimorbidity among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is increasing and associated with worse outcomes. Therefore, management of multimorbid patients requires a multidisciplinary approach. However, healthcare systems consist of mono-disciplinary subsystems, which limits collaboration across subsystems. To study the importance of a multidisciplinary, integrated approach, associations between expenditures and multimorbidity are assessed in real-life data. Retrospective data on RA patients from a Dutch single-hospital are analyzed and compared to the Dutch RA population data. The Elixhauser index is used to measure the multimorbidity prevalence. Regression analyses were conducted to derive the relationship between multimorbidity, healthcare costs and self-reported quality of life (e.g. EQ-5D). When analyzing the impact of multimorbidity within RA patients in context of a single-hospital context, multimorbidity is only partially captured: 13% prevalence versus 24% of the Dutch population. Multimorbidity is associated with higher care expenditures. Depending on the type of multimorbidity, expenditures are €43-€5821 higher in a single-hospital and from €2259-€9648 in population data. Finally, medication use associated with chronic diseases and self-reported aspects of well-being are associated with similar increases in healthcare expenditures as multimorbidity based on hospital care. Within RA, a single-hospital approach underestimates the association between multimorbidity and healthcare expenditures as 43% of healthcare utilization and expenditures are missed. To overcome a single-provider perspective in healthcare and efficiently coordinate multimorbid patients, besides providing holistic care, professionals also need to use data providing comprehensive pictures of patients.

Analysis of comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: a nested case-cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To describe comorbid conditions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) and to analyze factors associated with multimorbidity.

METHODS

Nested case-cohort study of 2 prospective cohorts: one with RA-ILD (cases) and another with RA but not ILD (controls). The cohorts were matched for age, sex, and time since diagnosis. Multimorbidity was defined as the co-occurrence of 2 or more chronic diseases, in addition to RA and ILD. We evaluated the comorbid conditions included in the Charlson Comorbidity Index, cardiovascular risk factors, neuropsychiatric conditions, and other frequent conditions in RA. We also recorded clinical-laboratory variables, inflammatory activity according to the 28-joint Disease Activity Score, C-reactive protein (CRP), physical function, and pulmonary function. We performed 2 multivariate analyses to identify factors associated with multimorbidity in RA and RA-ILD.

RESULTS

The final study population comprised 110 cases and 104 controls. Multimorbidity was more frequent among cases than controls (80 [72.7] vs 60 [57.7]; p = 0.021). In both groups, multimorbidity was associated with ILD (OR [95% CI] 1.92 [1.03-3.59]; p = 0.039), age (OR [95% CI] 1.05 [1.01-1.08]; p = 0.004), CRP (OR [95% CI] 1.16 [1.05-1.29]; p = 0.003), and erosions (OR [95% CI] 1.05 [1.01-1.08]; p = 0.004); in the cases, it was associated with CRP (OR [95% CI] 1.17 [1.01-1.35]; p = 0.027), anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (OR [95% CI] 1.23 [1.14-13.02]; p = 0.049), and forced vital capacity (OR [95% CI] 0.79 [0.96-0.99]; p = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

In patients with RA, multimorbidity was associated with ILD, systemic inflammation, and advanced age.

How do multiple long-term conditions impact on the cost-of-illness in early rheumatoid arthritis?

OBJECTIVE

Multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) are prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and associated with worse outcomes and greater economic burden. However, little is known about the impact of MLTCs on the cost-of-illness (COI) in early RA, including direct and indirect costs. The objective of this study was to quantify this impact on COI.

METHODS

The Scottish Early Rheumatoid Arthritis study is a national cohort of adults with new-onset RA. Direct costs were estimated applying relevant unit costs to health resource utilisation; indirect costs were measured by productivity loss due to health conditions. Two-part models were used, adjusting for age, gender, baseline functional disability and health-related quality of life. The Charlson Comorbidity Index score was calculated using ICD-10 diagnoses. Individuals were defined as 'RA alone', 'RA plus LTC' and 'RA plus MLTCs' according to the number of coexisting LTCs.

RESULTS

Data were available for 818 participants. Average annualised direct costs incurred by people with early RA plus MLTCs (£4444; 95% CI £3100 to £6371) were twice as, and almost five times higher than, those with a single LTC (£2184; 95% CI £1596 to £2997) and those without LTC (£919; 95% CI £694 to £1218), respectively. Indirect costs incurred by RA plus MLTCs (£842; 95% CI £377to £1521) were 3.1 times higher than RA alone (£530; 95% CI £273to £854). The relative proportion of direct costs increased with LTC category, ranging from 77.2% to 84.1%. In addition to increased costs with LTCs, costs also increased with age and were higher for men regardless of LTC category.

CONCLUSIONS

MLTCs impact on COI early in the course of RA. The presence of LTCs is associated with significant increases in both direct and indirect costs among people with early RA.