Mental health in paediatric and adult myositis-related diseases: current state of research, interventions, and future steps from the MIHRA Psychological Impact Scientific Working Group

Psychological and emotional well-being are critical aspects of overall health for individuals with chronic rheumatologic conditions. Mental health-related literature, however, predominantly focuses on systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, with limited emphasis on idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). High proportions of those with juvenile myositis report psychological distress at levels warranting mental health referral. Adults with dermatomyositis diagnosed with depression or anxiety do not receive adequate mental health care. Mental health symptoms in those with IIMs are associated with worse health-related quality of life, medication adherence, and disease outcomes. Despite demonstrated high rates of mental health burden, access to mental health care remains severely lacking.Data related to mental health burden is limited by small sample size, limited generalisability, variable methods of assessment, and inconsistent diagnosis codes to define mental health conditions. Additional research is needed to validate current screening tools in myositis populations. Other relevant measurable factors include disease severity, non-health- and health-related trauma exposure, loneliness, isolation, loss of control, sleep difficulties, fatigue, pain, self-esteem, body image, sexual health, and health inequities. Studiesare needed investigating the efficacy of therapeutic and pharmacologic interventions among patients with myositis who experience depression and anxiety. Currently, knowledge and resources are limited around mental health burden and potential intervention for those living with IIMs. The Myositis International Health & Research Collaborative Alliance (MIHRA) Psychological Impact Scientific Working Group offers a preliminary road map to characterise and prioritise the work ahead to understand baseline mental health burden and compare avenues for intervention.

Patient outcomes in longitudinal observational studies (POLOS) of rheumatoid arthritis: Determining the OMERACT core domain set

OBJECTIVE

To define and select rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-specific core domain set for Longitudinal Observational Studies (LOS) within the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) framework.

METHODS

A three-round online Delphi exercise, including patient research partners (PRPs) and other community partners in healthcare, was conducted. Domains scored 7-9 (i.e., critically important to include) by ≥ 70 % of participants in both groups were included. Items were consolidated in a subsequent dedicated meeting.

RESULTS

Nineteen domains scored ≥ 70 % consensus in both groups. The focus group refined these into a list of twelve domains.

CONCLUSION

The achieved consensus will inform the next steps of developing the core domain set for LOS in RA.

Collaborative research in myositis-related disorders: MIHRA, a global shared community model

Myositis International Health and Research Collaborative Alliance (MIHRA) is a newly formed purpose-built non-profit charitable research organization dedicated to accelerating international clinical trial readiness, global professional and lay education, career development and rare disease advocacy in IIM-related disorders. In its long form, the name expresses the community's scope of engagement and intent. In its abbreviation, MIHRA, conveys linguistic roots across many languages, that reflects the IIM community's spirit with meanings such as kindness, community, goodness, and peace. MIHRA unites the global multi-disciplinary community of adult and pediatric healthcare professionals, researchers, patient advisors and networks focused on conducting research in and providing care for pediatric and adult IIM-related disorders to ultimately find a cure. MIHRA serves as a resourced platform for collaborative efforts in investigator-initiated projects, consensus guidelines for IIM assessment and treatment, and IIM-specific career development through connecting research networks.MIHRA's infrastructure, mission, programming and operations are designed to address challenges unique to rare disease communities and aspires to contribute toward transformative models of rare disease research such as global expansion and inclusivity, utilization of community resources, streamlining ethics and data-sharing policies to facilitate collaborative research. Herein, summarises MIHRA operational cores, missions, vision, programming and provision of community resources to sustain, accelerate and grow global collaborative research in myositis-related disorders.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Neuromuscular Diseases: A Scoping Review

 Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are valuable in comprehensively understanding patients' health experiences and informing healthcare decisions in research and clinical care without clinicians' input. Until now, no central resource containing information on all PROMS in neuromuscular diseases (NMD) is available, hindering the comparison and choice of PROMs used to monitor NMDs and appropriately reflect the patient's voice. This scoping review aimed to present a comprehensive assessment of the existing literature on using PROMs in children and adults with NMD. A scoping methodology was followed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines to assess the literature on PROMs in NMDs. Eligibility criteria encompassed articles describing psychometric development or evaluation of generic or disease-specific PROM-based instruments for adults and children with specific NMDs. The data charting process involved extracting measurement properties of included PROMs, comprising validity, reliability, responsiveness, and interpretability information. The review identified 190 PROMs evaluated across 247 studies in individuals with NMDs. The majority of PROMs were disease specific. The physical functioning domain was most assessed. Validity was the most frequently investigated measurement property, with a limited number of PROMs sufficiently evaluated for a range of psychometric characteristics. There is a strong need for further research on the responsiveness and interpretability of PROMs and the development of PROMs on social functioning in NMD.

Reliability and validity of PROMIS physical function, pain interference, and fatigue as patient reported outcome measures in adult idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: International study from the OMERACT myositis working group

OBJECTIVE

Pain interference, fatigue, and impaired physical function are common features of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). The objective of this study was to evaluate the construct validity and test-retest reliability of the Patient Reported Outcome Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference 6av1.0, Fatigue 7av1.0, and Physical Function 8bv2.0 instruments.

METHODS

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) were deployed to adult IIM patients from OMERACT Myositis Working Group (MWG) international clinic sites via two online surveys (2019, 2021). Internal consistency of each PROM was analyzed by Cronbach's α. Construct validity was determined by a priori hypotheses generated by the MWG with >75% agreement for each hypothesis and calculated with Pearson correlations. Test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient with PROMIS instruments administered at time zero and 7 days.

RESULTS

Surveys were sent to 368 participants in total; participants who completed each questionnaire varied (n=65 to 263). For construct validity, 10 out of 13 a priori hypotheses were met supporting construct validity of PROMIS instruments (Pain Interference 3/4, fatigue 4/4, and Physical Function 3/5). Test-retest reliability was strong for all PROMIS instruments. All PROMIS instruments demonstrated excellent internal consistency. None of the measures demonstrated any ceiling or floor effects except for a ceiling effect in the Pain Interference instrument.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents test-retest reliability and construct validity evidence supporting PROMIS Pain Interference (6a v1.0), Fatigue (7a v1.0), and Physical Function (8b v2.0) using a large international cohort of patients with IIM. Internal consistency of these instruments was excellent. A ceiling effect was noted in the Pain Interference instrument.

Assessing the content validity of patient-reported outcome measures in adult myositis: A report from the OMERACT myositis working group

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the content validity of several patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM).

METHODS

Seven individual PROM instruments were selected by the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Myositis Working Group relating to the following domains: pain, fatigue, physical function and physical activity. Twenty patients from the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center were selected for one-on-one face-to-face or phone interviews for cognitive interviewing of individual PROMs to assess comprehension and content validity. Additionally, patients were asked if they thought muscle symptoms, an area originally identified in qualitative studies, were encapsulated by the other four domains.

RESULTS

The majority of patients (>70%) felt that each of the instruments was clear, easy to read and understand, and could be used for assessment of its domain. Two-thirds (66%) of patients felt that 'muscle symptoms' were captured by the other domains.

CONCLUSIONS

We provided evidence to support adequate content validity for several PROMs. Further research is needed to determine whether 'muscle symptoms' warrant a separate domain.

OMERACT 2018 Modified Patient-reported Outcome Domain Core Set in the Life Impact Area for Adult Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies

OBJECTIVE

To present and vote on a myositis modified patient-reported outcome core domain set in the life impact area at the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) 2018.

METHODS

Based on results from international focus groups and Delphi surveys, a draft core set was developed.

RESULTS

Domains muscle symptoms, fatigue, level of physical activity, and pain reached ≥ 70% consensus and were mandatory to assess in all trials. Domains lung, joint, and skin symptoms were mandatory in specific circumstances. This core set was endorsed by > 85% at OMERACT 2018.

CONCLUSION

We propose a life impact core set for patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and will proceed with instrument selections.

Perceptions of Patients, Caregivers, and Healthcare Providers of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: An International OMERACT Study

OBJECTIVE

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) that incorporate the patient perspective have not been well established in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). As part of our goal to develop IIM-specific PROM, the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Myositis special interest group sought to determine which aspects of disease and its effects are important to patients and healthcare providers (HCP).

METHODS

Based on a prior qualitative content analysis of focus groups, an initial list of 24 candidate domains was constructed. We subsequently conducted an international survey to identify the importance of each of the 24 domains to be assessed in clinical research. Patients with IIM, their caregivers, and HCP treating IIM completed the survey.

RESULTS

In this survey, a total of 638 respondents completed the survey, consisting of 510 patients, 101 HCP, and 27 caregivers from 48 countries. Overall, patients were more likely to rank "fatigue," "cognitive impact," and "difficulty sleeping" higher compared with HCP, who ranked "joint symptoms," "lung symptoms," and "dysphagia" higher. Both patients and providers rated muscle symptoms as their top domain. In general, patients from different countries were in agreement on which domains were most important. One notable exception was that patients from Sweden and the Netherlands ranked lung symptoms significantly higher compared to other countries including the United States and Australia (mean weighted rankings of 2.86 and 2.04 vs 0.76 and 0.80, respectively; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Substantial differences exist in how IIM is perceived by patients compared to HCP, with different domains prioritized. In contrast, patients' ratings across the world were largely similar.

Advancing the Development of Patient-reported Outcomes for Adult Myositis at OMERACT 2016: An International Delphi Study

OBJECTIVE

To define a set of core patient-reported domains and respective instruments for use in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). Previously, we reported a systematic literature review on patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in IIM followed by conducting international focus groups to elicit patient perspectives of myositis symptoms and effects.

METHODS

Based on qualitative content analysis of focus groups, an initial list of 26 candidate domains was constructed. We subsequently conducted an international modified Delphi survey to identify the importance of each of the 26 domains. Participants were asked to rate each domain on a scale of 0-10 (0 = not important, 10 = very important).

RESULTS

In this first round of the Delphi survey, 643 patients participated from the United States (n = 543), Sweden (n = 49), and South Korea (n = 51). Of the 26 domains, 19 (73%) were rated of high importance (≥ 7/10). The top 5 domains were muscle symptoms, fatigue, interactions with healthcare, medication side effects, and pain. During Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) 2016, we discussed the goal for ultimate reduction in the number of domains and the importance of considering representation of healthcare providers from other specialties, caregivers, representatives of pharmaceutical industries, and regulatory authorities in the next rounds of Delphi to represent broader perspectives on IIM.

CONCLUSION

Further prioritization and a reduction in the number of domains will be needed for the next Delphi. At the next biennial OMERACT meeting, we aim to present and seek voting on a Myositis Preliminary PRO Core Set to enable ultimate measure selection and development.