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Weiss M, Holzer MT, Muehlensiepen F, Ignatyev Y, Fiehn C, Bauhammer J, Schmidt J, Schlüter S, Dihkan A, Scheibner D, Schneider U, Valor-Mendez L, Corte G, Gupta L, Chinoy H, Lundberg I, Cavagna L, Distler JHW, Schett G, Knitza J. Healthcare utilization and unmet needs of patients with antisynthetase syndrome: An international patient survey. Rheumatol Int 2023; 43:1925-1934. [PMID: 37452880 PMCID: PMC10435645 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-023-05372-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Antisynthease syndrome (ASSD) is a rare, complex and understudied autoimmune disease. Internet-based studies can overcome barriers of traditional on-site research and are therefore very appealing for rare diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate patient-reported symptoms, diagnostic delay, symptoms, medical care, health status, working status, disease knowledge and willingness to participate in research of ASSD patients by conducting an international web-based survey. The multilingual questionnaire was created by an international group of rheumatologists and patients and distributed online. 236 participants from 22 countries completed the survey. 184/236 (78.0%) were female, mean age (SD) was 49.6 years (11.3) and most common antisynthetase antibody was Jo-1 (169/236, 71.6%). 79/236 (33.5%) reported to work full-time. Median diagnostic delay was one year. The most common symptom at disease onset was fatigue 159/236 (67.4%), followed by myalgia 130/236 (55.1%). The complete triad of myositis, arthritis and lung involvement verified by a clinician was present in 42/236 (17.8%) at disease onset and in 88/236 (37.3%) during the disease course. 36/236 (15.3%) reported to have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and 40/236 (16.3%) with depression. The most reported immunosuppressive treatments were oral corticosteroids 179/236 (75.9%), followed by rituximab 85/236 (36.0%). 73/236 (30.9%) had received physiotherapy treatment. 71/236 (30.1%) reported to know useful online information sources related to ASSD. 223/236 (94.5%) were willing to share health data for research purposes once a year. Our results reiterate that internet-based research is invaluable for cooperating with patients to foster knowledge in rare diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - M T Holzer
- III. Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - F Muehlensiepen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Rüdersdorf, Germany
| | - Y Ignatyev
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Rüdersdorf, Germany
| | - C Fiehn
- Praxis für Rheumatologie, Klinische Immunologie, Medical Center, Baden-Baden, Germany
| | - J Bauhammer
- Praxis für Rheumatologie, Klinische Immunologie, Medical Center, Baden-Baden, Germany
| | - J Schmidt
- Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Pain Treatment, Center for Translational Medicine, Neuromuscular Center, Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf, University Hospital of the Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Center, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - S Schlüter
- Myositis-Gruppe, Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Muskelkranke, Freiburg, Germany
| | - A Dihkan
- The Swedish Working Group for Myositis, The Swedish Rheumatism Association, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - D Scheibner
- Myositis-Gruppe, Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Muskelkranke, Freiburg, Germany
| | - U Schneider
- Department of Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - L Valor-Mendez
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - G Corte
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - L Gupta
- Department of Rheumatology, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
- Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Rheumatology, City Hospital, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - H Chinoy
- Department of Rheumatology, Salford Royal Hospital, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Salford, UK
- Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - I Lundberg
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dermatology and Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - L Cavagna
- Rheumatology Division, Fondazione Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - J H W Distler
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - G Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - J Knitza
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany
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