Evaluation of the European Society of Cardiology Risk Assessment Score in Incident Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

OBJECTIVE

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) may be stratified as low, intermediate, or high risk of 1-year mortality. In 2022, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) updated and simplified its risk stratification tool, based on three variables: World Health Organization functional class, serum N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide and six-minute walk distance, applied at follow-up visits, intended to guide therapy over time.

METHODS

We applied the 2022 ESC risk assessment tool at baseline and follow-up (within 2 years) to a multinational incident cohort of systemic sclerosis-associated PAH (SSc-PAH). Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox hazards regression, and accelerated failure time models were used to evaluate survival by risk score.

RESULTS

At baseline (n = 260), the majority of SSc-PAH (72.2%) were graded as intermediate risk of death according to the 2022 tool. At follow-up, according to 2022 tool, half (55.5%) of the cohort were classified as low or intermediate-low risk. The 2022 risk model at follow-up was able to differentiate survival between risk strata. All three individual parameters (World Health Organization functional class, N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide, six-minute walk distance) were significantly associated with mortality at baseline and/or follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The 2022 ESC risk assessment strategy applied at baseline and follow-up predicts survival in SSc-PAH. Treatment decisions for SSc-PAH should include risk assessments, aiming to achieve low-risk status according to the 2022 ESC guidelines.

Prevalence and factors associated with fatigue in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease associated with significant morbidity. Fatigue, a widely recognized disease manifestation, has considerable impacts on patients' work productivity, physical function and mental well-being. However, the reported prevalence of fatigue varies across studies, and pooled data are currently lacking. We aimed to characterize the prevalence of fatigue in patients with axSpA and to identify factors associated with fatigue.

Methods

A systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted to determine the global prevalence of fatigue in patients with axSpA. Databases including CINAHL, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched from inception until April 2023. Data were extracted, and the quality of studies was assessed. A pooled prevalence of fatigue was determined by using a random-effects model. Meta-analyses were used to determine the observed heterogeneity via subgroup analysis and associations between relevant predictors and the presence of fatigue.

Results

Thirty eligible articles were included in the study, including 7893 patients with axSpA. The pooled prevalence of fatigue in patients with axSpA was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.49, 0.63; I2 = 94.6%), with significant levels of heterogeneity. Among the factors of heterogeneity explored, the geographical region of the study (P = 0.0013) was significant for being a possible source. Poorer quality of life was associated with more fatigue (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

More than half of patients with axSpA experience fatigue, with poorer quality of life being associated with more fatigue.