Reflecting on early arthritis

Challenges of caring for homeless patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders in Los Angeles

Homelessness is a public health crisis. Homeless individuals have significantly worse health outcomes than the general population. We have begun examining challenges of caring for homeless patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Difficulties include physical environment, food and financial insecurity, access to healthcare, low health literacy, and comorbid mental illness, and substance abuse. Based on known prevalences of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMSDs), we extrapolate that there are thousands of homeless with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, gout, and osteoarthritis. We present preliminary observations of disparities in the care of homeless patients with RA seen at the Los Angeles County Medical Center of the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. They tended to be African American males, missed appointments, utilized emergency services frequently, tended not to be on medications, and exhibited severe disease. We reviewed the available literature on homelessness and homeless healthcare to consider what further studies might be helpful and what interventions might improve the care of patients with RMSDs. We identified several aspirational and practical recommendations. These include ensuring access to healthcare for the homeless (indeed for all); reducing disparities through policy, tailored care, and enhanced social services; and recognizing and treating disease early. Developing better approaches for the care of these homeless has obvious and important implications for other underserved populations needing rheumatologic care, patients with early arthritis, or situations where rheumatologists are unavailable. We believe that physicians have a special responsibility to mitigate inequities in this particularly disadvantaged population.

Determining early referral criteria for patients with suspected inflammatory arthritis presenting to primary care physicians: a cross-sectional study

Objective

Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment for inflammatory arthritis can greatly improve patient outcome. We aimed to provide standardized and validated criteria for use by primary care physicians (PCPs) in the identification of individuals requiring referral to a rheumatologist.

Patients and methods

We analyzed the predictive value of a wide variety of demographic variables, patient-reported complaints, physical examination results, and biomarkers in order to identify the most useful factors for indicating a requirement for referral. Patients for this cross-sectional study were enrolled from various centers of the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, if they were ≥18 years of age and presented to a PCP with small joint pain that had been present for more than 6 weeks. A total of 203 patients were enrolled, as indicated by the sample size calculation. Each patient underwent a standardized physical examination, which was subsequently compared to ultrasound findings. Biomarker analysis and a patient interview were also carried out. Results were then correlated with the final diagnosis made by a rheumatologist.

Results

A total of 9 variables were identified as having high specificity and good predictive value: loss of appetite, swelling of metacarpophalangeal joint 2 or 5, swelling of proximal inter-phalangeal joint 2 or 3, wrist swelling, wrist tenderness, a positive test for rheumatoid factor, and a positive test for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies.

Conclusion

Nine variables should be the basis of early referral criteria. It should aid PCPs in making appropriate early referrals of patients with suspected inflammatory arthritis, accelerating diagnosis and initiation of treatment.

Reflecting on pain management for patients with osteoarthritis and other rheumatic disorders: there's more to pain management than managing pain

SUMMARY Medical progress is measured by advances in science and technology. The pace of discovery will surely accelerate. We are increasingly challenged not only to assimilate new information, but also to reconcile our learning with our art. We present the common clinical problem of managing pain in osteoarthritis as a paradigm for this dilemma in contemporary patient care. We do not yet have the understanding and interventions to do this optimally for all with osteoarthritis, leaving us with uncertainties as we struggle to care for these patients. In a world of growing complexity and sophistication we must not overlook the person who is our patient. It is easy to be seduced by electronic and informational advances, to be entranced by machinery, and to forget the unique individuality and needs of each patient. Osler taught that "the practice of medicine is an art, based on science". This doesn't change.