Shifting from a Rheumatologic Point of View toward Patient-centered Care in Rheumatoid Arthritis with an Integrated Management of Comorbidities

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.

Synthesis of New 3-Morpholyl-Substituted 4-Aryl-2-Arylimino-2,3-Dihydrothiazole Derivatives and Their Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity

New 4-aryl-3-(morpholin-4-yl)-2-arylimino-2,3-dihydrothiazole derivatives 1.1-1.16 were obtained using the Hantzsch reaction by condensation of N-(morpholin-4-yl)-N'-arylthioureas with the corresponding α bromoacetophenones in alcohols. Synthesized hydrobromides 1.1-1.8 were formed as crystalline precipitates during the boiling of the reaction mixture. Bases 1.9-1.16 were obtained by neutralizing the corresponding hydrobromides with NH4OH solution. It has been proposed a possible mechanism of the reaction that is based on the study of the structure of the synthesized compounds. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy with its special techniques (NOESY and ROESY experiments). It has been shown the formation of the isomer 4-(4'-chlorophenyl)-3-(morpholin-4-yl)-2-(4'-chlorophenylamino)-2.3-dihydrothiazole on the basis of compound 1.14. Pharmacological screening of synthesized derivatives of 4-aryl-2-arylimino-2,3-dihydrothiazole compounds revealed the analgesic effect in the model of visceral pain caused by the introduction of acetic acid to white mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of the synthesized compounds was evaluated in vivo by reducing limb edema in rats with carrageenan-induced inflammation. Thus, the synthesized compounds have analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity.

Factors Associated With Quality Care Among Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis

IMPORTANCE

Although quality care markers exist for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the predictors of meeting these markers are unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To explore factors associated with quality care among patients with RA.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A retrospective cohort study using insurance claims from 2009 to 2017 was conducted, and 6 sequential logistic regression models were built to evaluate quality care markers. Quality care markers were measured at 1 year post-RA diagnosis for each patient. The MarketScan Research Database, which contains commercial and Medicare Advantage administrative claims data from more than 100 million individuals in the US, was used to identify patients aged 18 to 64 years with a diagnosis claim for RA. Patients with conditions presenting similar to RA and missing demographic characteristics were excluded. Data analysis occurred between February 18 and May 5, 2022.

EXPOSURES

Success or failure to meet selected RA quality care markers within 1 year after RA diagnosis.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Prevalence of meeting successive quality care markers for RA.

RESULTS

Among 581 770 patients, 430 843 (74.1%) were women and the mean (SD) age was 48.9 (11.3) years. Most patients (236 285 [40.6%]) resided in the South and had an income less than or equal to $45 200 (490 366 [84.3%]). Of the total study population, 399 862 individuals (68.7%) met at least 1 quality care marker and 181 908 (31.3%) met 0 markers. Most commonly, patients met annual laboratory testing (299 323 [51.5%]) and referral to a rheumatologist (256 765 [44.1%]) markers. The least met marker was receiving hepatitis B screening prior to initiation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy (18 548 [3.2%]). Women were most likely to meet all quality care markers except receiving DMARDs with hepatitis B screening (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.12-1.16). Individuals with lower median household income had lower odds of receiving a rheumatologist referral, an annual physical examination, or annual laboratory testing, but greater odds of receiving the other quality care markers. Patients with Medicare and those with comorbidities were generally less likely to meet quality care markers.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cohort study of patients with RA, findings indicated downstream associations with rheumatologist referral and receiving DMARDs and varied associations between meeting quality care markers and patient characteristics. These findings suggest that prioritizing early care, especially for vulnerable patients, will ensure that quality care continues.

Cardiovascular Events, Sleep Apnoea, and Pulmonary Hypertension in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: Data from the French Health Insurance Database

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease, associated with a high risk of lymphoma. Mounting evidence suggests that cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are higher in patients with pSS, although data are heterogeneous. The aim of this study was to assess whether pSS patients are at higher risk of hospitalisation for cardiovascular events (CVEs), venous thromboembolic events (VTEs), pulmonary hypertension (PH), and sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS). Through a nationwide population-based retrospective study using the French health insurance database, we selected new-onset pSS in-patients hospitalised between 2011 and 2018. We compared the incidence of CVEs (ischemic heart diseases (IHDs), strokes, and heart failure), SAS, VTEs, and PH with an age- and sex-matched (1:10) hospitalised control group. The calculations of adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) included available confounding factors. We studied 25,661 patients hospitalised for pSS compared with 252,543 matched patients. The incidence of hospitalisation for IHD, SAS, and PH was significantly higher in pSS patients (aHR: 1.20 (1.06–1.34); p = 0.003, aHR: 1.97 (1.70–2.28); p < 0.001, and aHR: 3.32 (2.10–5.25); p < 0.001, respectively), whereas the incidence of stroke, heart failure, and VTE was the same between groups. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and to explore the pathophysiological mechanisms involved.

Amlodipine modulation of analgesic effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in rheumatoid arthritis, comorbid with arterial hypertension

 With the interaction of drugs belonging to different pharmacotherapeutic groups – nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive – against the background of comorbid arterial hypertension with rheumatoid arthritis, the activity and safety of drugs may change with their combined use. Changes in the analgesic activity of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, different in their selectivity to the types of cyclooxygenase (diclofenac, nimesulide and celecoxib), under the conditions of their long-term combined use with amlodipine in different periods of inflammation against the background of hypertension should be studied. Using the model of adjuvant arthritis comorbid with hypertension, in experiments on nonlinear mature white rats, the threshold of pain sensitivity has been determined by means of the “tail flick” test. Hypertension was caused by salt load with 1% sodium chloride solution for drinking with free access to it. Adjuvant arthritis was induced by the introduction of complete Freund’s adjuvant into the plantar aponeurosis of the hind limb of each animal with the established arterial hypertension. Against the background of arterial hypertension and comorbid pathology, there was an increase in the threshold of pain sensitivity observed in rats, which indicated the development of hypoalgesia. When combined, amlodipine enhanced the analgesic activity of diclofenac during 60 days of observation, slightly heightened the analgesic effect of nimesulide – up to 42 days, the effect of Celecoxib – in the acute period and the period of manifestation of adjuvant arthritis against the background of hypertension. The antinociceptive effect of diclofenac with amlodipine and celecoxib with amlodipine exceeded the analgesic effect of the combined nimesulide with amlodipine use against the background of comorbid pathology. The results obtained can be taken into account under the conditions of prescribing drugs belonging to the studied pharmacotherapeutic groups. It is likely that the use of diclofenac for analgesia against the background of comorbid conditions is only appropriate in the acute period of rheumatoid arthritis. The use of nimesulide to achieve an analgesic effect in the recurrence of rheumatoid arthritis against the background of hypertension is appropriate in the acute period and in the period of the inflammatory process attenuation. A highly selective coxib group cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, can reduce pain during the acute period of arthritis and during the manifestation of an inflammatory reaction that has developed against the background of arterial hypertension.

Depression: a common comorbidity in women with rheumatoid arthritis-results from an Austrian cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Previous research showed that depression is common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the prevalence very much depends on different assessment tools and sociocultural differences, respectively. The main study aim and research question was to investigate the proportion of depressive symptoms in Austrian female patients with RA.

SETTING

A nationwide multicentre study with seven secondary care centres all over Austria (hospital-based rheumatological outpatient clinics and private practices).

PARTICIPANTS

319 patients with RA and 306 healthy controls (HCO), all female Caucasians, were asked to complete a Beck's Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS). Patients and HCO were ≥18 years. Patients had to fulfil the 2010 classification criteria for RA. In addition, disease activity, disability, medication, drinking of alcoholic beverages, smoking and occupational status were evaluated.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

A BDI-FS cut-off value of ≥4, per definition, indicates the presence of a depressive symptomatology.

RESULTS

The return rate of questionnaires was high: 235/319 (73.7%) in patients with RA and 180/306 (58.8%), ending up with 392 complete questionnaires from 223 patients with RA (69.9%) and 169 HCO (55.2%). The BDI-FS was significantly higher in patients with RA (median BDI-FS 2 (IQR 0-4) vs median 1 (IQR 0-2) in HCO, p<0.001). BDI-FS scores from ≥4, which by definition indicate depression, were found in 29.6% of patients with RA and 12.4% of HCO (p<0.001). Depressive symptoms were strongly associated with disease activity (Clinical Disease Activity Index, p<0.001) and disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire, p<0.005). No association of depressive symptoms with age, alcohol consumption, smoking, occupational status or use of medication was found.

CONCLUSIONS

One-third of female patients with RA showed depressive symptoms. Depression was significantly higher in female patients with RA than in female HCO and was strongly associated with disease activity and disability. It would be of interest to address the same question in male participants.