Using Polygenic Risk Scores to Aid Diagnosis of Patients With Early Inflammatory Arthritis: Results From the Norfolk Arthritis Register

OBJECTIVE

There is growing evidence that genetic data are of benefit in the rheumatology outpatient setting by aiding early diagnosis. A genetic probability tool (G-PROB) has been developed to aid diagnosis has not yet been tested in a real-world setting. Our aim was to assess whether G-PROB could aid diagnosis in the rheumatology outpatient setting using data from the Norfolk Arthritis Register (NOAR), a prospective observational cohort of patients presenting with early inflammatory arthritis.

METHODS

Genotypes and clinician diagnoses were obtained from patients from NOAR. Six G-probabilities (0%-100%) were created for each patient based on known disease-associated odds ratios of published genetic risk variants, each corresponding to one disease of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, gout, or "other diseases." Performance of the G-probabilities compared with clinician diagnosis was assessed.

RESULTS

We tested G-PROB on 1,047 patients. Calibration of G-probabilities with clinician diagnosis was high, with regression coefficients of 1.047, where 1.00 is ideal. G-probabilities discriminated clinician diagnosis with pooled areas under the curve (95% confidence interval) of 0.85 (0.84-0.86). G-probabilities <5% corresponded to a negative predictive value of 96.0%, for which it was possible to suggest >2 unlikely diseases for 94% of patients and >3 for 53.7% of patients. G-probabilities >50% corresponded to a positive predictive value of 70.4%. In 55.7% of patients, the disease with the highest G-probability corresponded to clinician diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

G-PROB converts complex genetic information into meaningful and interpretable conditional probabilities, which may be especially helpful at eliminating unlikely diagnoses in the rheumatology outpatient setting.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-induced Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) immune-related adverse events (ICI-PMRs) represent a novel, distinct entity, despite many clinical, laboratory, and imaging similarities to classical PMR. Important questions remain in differentiating ICI-PMR from classical PMR, as well as other immune-related adverse events and PMR mimics. Despite this, ICI-PMR currently takes treatment cues from classical PMR, albeit with considerations relevant to cancer immunotherapy. Comparisons between ICI-PMR and classical PMR may provide further bidirectional insights, especially given that important questions remain unanswered about both diseases. The cause of classical PMR remains poorly understood, and ICI-PMR may represent a model of induced PMR, with important therapeutic implications.

Treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica: British Society for Rheumatology guideline scope

The last British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) guideline on PMR was published in 2009. The guideline needs to be updated to provide a summary of the current evidence for pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of adults with PMR. This guideline is aimed at healthcare professionals in the UK who directly care for people with PMR, including general practitioners, rheumatologists, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, psychologists and other health professionals. It will also be relevant to people living with PMR and organisations that support them in the public and third sector, including charities and informal patient support groups. This guideline will be developed using the methods and processes outlined in the BSR Guidelines Protocol. Here we provide a brief summary of the scope of the guideline update in development.

Marriage, Children, and Sex-Based Differences in Physician Hours and Income

Importance

A better understanding of the association between family structure and sex gaps in physician earnings and hours worked over the life cycle is needed to advance policies addressing persistent sex disparities.

Objective

To investigate differences in earnings and hours worked for male and female physicians at various ages and family status.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective, cross-sectional study used data on physicians aged 25 to 64 years responding to the American Community Survey between 2005 and 2019.

Exposures

Earned income and work hours.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Outcomes included annual earned income, usual hours worked per week, and earnings per hour worked. Gaps in earnings and hours by sex were calculated by family status and physician age and, in some analyses, adjusted for demographic characteristics and year of survey. Data analyses were conducted between 2019 and 2022.

Results

The sample included 95 435 physicians (35.8% female, 64.2% male, 19.8% Asian, 4.8% Black, 5.9% Hispanic, 67.3% White, and 2.2% other race or ethnicity) with a mean (SD) age of 44.4 (10.4) years. Relative to male physicians, female physicians were more likely to be single (18.8% vs 11.2%) and less likely to have children (53.3% vs 58.2%). Male-female earnings gaps grew with age and, when accumulated from age 25 to 64 years, were approximately $1.6 million for single physicians, $2.5 million for married physicians without children, and $3.1 million for physicians with children. Gaps in earnings per hour did not vary by family structure, with male physicians earning between 21.4% and 23.9% more per hour than female physicians. The male-female gap in hours worked was 0.6% for single physicians, 7.0% for married physicians without children, and 17.5% for physicians with children.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study of US physicians, marriage and children were associated with a greater earnings penalty for female physicians, primarily due to fewer hours worked relative to men. Addressing the barriers that lead to women working fewer hours could contribute to a reduction in the male-female earnings gap while helping to expand the effective physician workforce.

Imaging of giant cell arteritis - recent advances

Imaging is increasingly being used to guide clinical decision-making in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). While ultrasound has been rapidly adopted in fast-track clinics worldwide as an alternative to temporal artery biopsy for the diagnosis of cranial disease, whole-body PET/CT is emerging as a potential gold standard test for establishing large vessel involvement. However, many unanswered questions remain about the optimal approach to imaging in GCA. For example, it is uncertain how best to monitor disease activity, given there is frequent discordance between imaging findings and conventional disease activity measures, and imaging changes typically fail to resolve completely with treatment. This chapter addresses the current body of evidence for the use of imaging modalities in GCA across the spectrum of diagnosis, monitoring disease activity, and long-term surveillance for structural changes of aortic dilatation and aneurysm formation and provides suggestions for future research directions.

An international survey of current management practices for polymyalgia rheumatica by general practitioners and rheumatologists

OBJECTIVES

To explore current management practices for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) by general practitioners (GPs) and rheumatologists including implications for clinical trial recruitment.

METHODS

An English language questionnaire was constructed by a working group of rheumatologists and GPs from 6 countries. The questionnaire focused on: 1: Respondent characteristics, 2: Referral practices, 3: Treatment with glucocorticoids, 4: Diagnostics, 5: Comorbidities, and 6: Barriers to research. The questionnaire was distributed to rheumatologists and GPs worldwide via members of the International PMR/giant cell arteritis Study Group.

RESULTS

In total, 394 GPs and 937 rheumatologists responded to the survey. GPs referred a median of 25% of their suspected PMR patients for diagnosis and 50% of these were returned to their GP for management. In general, 39% of rheumatologists evaluated patients with suspected PMR >2 weeks after referral, and a median of 50% of patients had started prednisolone before rheumatologist evaluation. Direct comparison of initial treatment showed that the percentage prescribing >25 mg prednisolone daily for patients was 30% for GPs and 12% for rheumatologists. Diagnostic imaging was rarely used. More than half (56%) of rheumatologists experienced difficulties recruiting people with PMR to clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

This large international survey indicates that a large proportion of people with PMR are not referred for diagnosis, and that the proportion of treatment naïve patients declined with increasing time from referral to assessment. Strategies are needed to change referral and management of people with PMR, to improve clinical practice and facilitate recruitment to clinical trials.

Treatment of axial spondyloarthritis with biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs: British Society for Rheumatology guideline scope

Pharmacological management has advanced considerably since the 2015 British Society for Rheumatology axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) guideline to incorporate new classes of biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs, including biosimilars), targeted synthetic DMARDs (tsDMARDs) and treatment strategies such as drug tapering. The aim of this guideline is to provide an evidence-based update on pharmacological management of adults with axSpA (including AS and non-radiographic axSpA) using b/tsDMARDs. This guideline is aimed at health-care professionals in the UK who care directly for people with axSpA, including rheumatologists, rheumatology specialist nurses, allied health professionals, rheumatology specialty trainees and pharmacists; people living with axSpA; and other stakeholders, such as patient organizations and charities.

472 Accuracy of Documentation and Handover of Surgical Operation Details in Cardiac Surgery

Introduction

GMC Good Medical Practice Guideline states that documentation must be clear, accurate and legible. Accurate documentation of operation notes ensures proper postoperative care and forms important legal documents. This audit aims to assess the accurateness and consistency of recorded operation names throughout patients’ hospital stay following cardiac surgery, as well as the effect of standardisation of operation names to improve the accuracy of documentation.

Method

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery at St. Bartholomew's Hospital from November 29 to December 10, 2021, had data prospectively collected from their electronic patient records, which were compared to the standardised operation name. After the first audit cycle, junior medical staff were educated on the standardisation of operation names. Electronic patient records were reviewed again for patients undergoing cardiac surgery from January 10 to January 20, 2022.

Results

Following intervention, there were significant improvements in the accuracy of documented operation details. Initially, 65% of operation notes were accurately documented, whereas 96% of operation notes were completed to the ideal standard post-intervention. There was a 37% increase in the number of accurate discharge summaries, while inaccuracies and missing operation names were reduced to 0% from the initial 12%.

Conclusions

Accurate documentation of operation details is expected by GMC standards. Poor documentation can hinder the quality-of-care patients receive postoperatively. We have shown variation in descriptions of standard operations and multiple inaccuracies throughout patients’ hospital stay. We suggest agreed standardisation of operation details and education of junior medical staff regarding accuracy of documentation to enhance compliance with the GMC standard.

AB0584 MANAGEMENT OF REFERRALS, TREATMENT STRATEGY, AND RESEARCH CHALLENGES IN POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA AMONGST RHEUMATOLOGISTS WORLDWIDE: A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY

Background

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is diagnosed and treated by both general practitioners (GP) and rheumatologists. How rheumatologists around the world manage the referral process of patients with PMR from GP’s has not been described. EULAR/ACR guidelines recommend initial prednisolone doses between 12.5 and 25 mg, but it is unknown if guidelines are followed in daily clinical practice1. In addition, the understanding of challenges for recruitment to clinical trials in PMR is currently limited.

Objectives

This study aims to describe the management of referrals, treatment strategy, and recruitment to clinical trials in PMR among rheumatologists worldwide.

Methods

An English language questionnaire was drafted by a working group of rheumatologists and GP’s from 6 different countries. Questions concerned: 1: respondent, 2: referrals, 3: prednisolone, and 4: barriers to research. Questionnaires were distributed to rheumatologists via members of the International PMR/GCA study group. Answers were collected via an online survey tool (Redcap), from 2nd of November 2021 to 27th of January 2022. Countries were grouped by income and geographical region based on the World bank classifications. Data were weighted by number of inhabitants in a country, based on the United Nations age specific population count, divided by number of respondents in a country. Countries with more than 20 respondents were included.

Results

Results from 27 countries were analysed including 1000 responders in total (Figure 1). There was large variation in time from referral to first assessment, initial dose of prednisolone was high, duration of treatment was relatively short, and a large proportion of patients with newly diagnosed PMR received prednisolone prior to rheumatological evaluation (Table 1). Concerning the 15% of respondents who performed research in PMR, 52% had participated in clinical trials and 56% of the responders experienced difficulties with recruitment.

Table 1.

Characteristics of reponders, referrals, and treatment.

Geographical regionIncomeThe worldEurope and Central AsiaNorth AmericaLatin AmericaEast Asia and PacificSouth AsiaMiddle East and AfricaHigh- income countriesLow- and middle- income countriesRespondersResponders (n), Completed questionnaire (total)875 (1000)294 (304)78 (81)136 (152)53 (53)53 (72)261 (338)446 (458)429 (542)Experience as rheumatologist (years)11 (6-20)12 (6-20)7 (4-20)11 (6-23)21 (10-30)7 (4-10)9 (5-18)11 (5-22)8 (5-12)ReferralsGP’s can discuss patients prior to referral, %647979575860677461Referred patients seen (%)100 (90-100)100 (90-100)100 (100-100)100 (100-100)100 (95-100)100 (100-100)100 (60-100)100 (100-100)100 (90-100)Evaluation > 2 weeks after referral, %26498060216185815PrednisoloneStarted prior to rheumatological evaluation (%)50 (20-50)60 (30-80)70 (50-80)50 (10-50)30 (20-50)50 (20-80)20 (0-50)50 (30-80)50 (10-70)Initial dose (mg)20 (15-40)20 (15-20)20 (15-20)20 (20-40)15 (15-15)20 (15-40)20 (15-40)15 (15-20)20 (15-40)Initial dose > 25 mg, %32964104143642Duration of treatment (months)12 (6-12)12 (12-18)12 (10-18)6 (3-12)18 (12-18)12 (6-12)6 (3-12)12 (12-18)9 (6-12)

Data presented as weighted median (interquartile range) unless otherwise stated.

GP: general practitioner

Conclusion

This is the first description of current practice in managing referrals and treatment of PMR by rheumatologists worldwide. In general, median treatment duration was according to EULAR/ACR guidelines, but initial dose of prednisolone was often higher than recommended in many parts of the world. PMR patients were often seen more than two weeks after referral, and treatment had started prior to first rheumatological evaluation.

References

[1]Dejaco C, Singh YP, Perel P, et al. 2015 Recommendations for the management of polymyalgia rheumatica: a European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology collaborative initiative. Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2015; 74(10): 1799-807.

Acknowledgements

This study was endorsed by the international PMR/GCA study group.

Disclosure of Interests

Agnete Overgaard Donskov: None declared, Sarah Mackie: None declared, Ellen-Margrethe Hauge Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Sanofi, Sobi, MSD, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Sanofi, Sobi, MSD, UCB, Grant/research support from: Novo Nordic Foundation, Danish Rheumatism Association, Danish Regions Medicine Grants, Roche, Novartis, Celgene, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Sobi, CARLOS TORO GUTIÉRREZ: None declared, Ib Hansen: None declared, Andrea Hemmig: None declared, Aatke van der Maas: None declared, Tamer A Gheita: None declared, Berit Dalsgaard NIelsen Paid instructor for: Roche, Karen Douglas: None declared, Richard Conway Speakers bureau: Janssen, Roche, Sanofi, Abbvie,, Elena Rezus: None declared, Bhaskar Dasgupta: None declared, Sara Monti: None declared, Eric Matteson Consultant of: Boehringer-Ingelheim,, Grant/research support from: Boehringer Ingelheim,, Sebastian E. Sattui Grant/research support from: AstraZeneca, Mark Matza: None declared, Vanessa Ocampo Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Andrea Bran: None declared, Simone Appenzeller Grant/research support from: GSK, Annelise Goecke Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Recalcine. Consultant Abbvie, Boehringer Ingelheim, NELLY COLMAN MC LEOD Speakers bureau: Laboratorios FAPASA (Farmacéutica Paraguay), Helen Keen Speakers bureau: Roche, Abbvie, Masataka Kuwana: None declared, Latika Gupta: None declared, Babur Salim: None declared, Ghita Harifi Speakers bureau: Abvie, Johnson and johnson, Lilly, Novartis, Mariama Erraoui: None declared, Nelly Ziade Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Roche, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, Paid instructor for: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer, Janssen, Novartis., Consultant of: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, Novartis, Sandoz, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Celgene - Algorithm, Bristol-Myers Squibb - NewBridge, Pfizer, Nizar Abdulateef Al-Ani: None declared, Adeola Ajibade: None declared, Johannes Knitza: None declared, Line Frølund: None declared, Max Yates: None declared, Victor Pimentel-Quiroz: None declared, Andre Lyrio: None declared, Maria Sandovici: None declared, Kornelis van der Geest Speakers bureau: Roche, Toby Helliwell Grant/research support from: Valneva, Elisabeth Brouwer Speakers bureau: Roche, Christian Dejaco Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Galapagos and Sanofi, Consultant of: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Roche, Galapagos and Sanofi, Kresten Keller: None declared

AB0583 REFERRAL PATTERN AND TREATMENT OF POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA IN GENERAL PRACTICE: AN INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY

Background

In most countries polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is diagnosed and managed by both general practitioners (GP) and rheumatologists. However, the referral pattern from GP’s to specialist around the world has not been described. The initial prednisolone dose recommended by EULAR/ACR is between 12.5 and 25 mg1, but little is known about whether these guidelines are followed everywhere by GP’s in clinical practice2.

Objectives

This study aims to describe the refererral pattern and treatment strategy for PMR in general practice in several countries worldwide.

Methods

An English language questionnaire was drafted by a working group of rheumatologists and GP’s from 6 different countries. The questionnaire contained questions on: 1: Respondent, 2: Referral pattern and 3: Prednisolone. Questionnaires were distributed to GP’s via members of the International PMR/GCA study group. Answers were collected via an online survey tool (Redcap), from 3rd of November 2021 to 27th of January 2022. Countries with more than 15 responders to the questionnaire were included in the analysis.

Results

Data from 11 countries were analysed. Referral patterns differed widely among countries (Table 1). Almost all patients initially seen by rheumatologists were returned to GP’s for treatment. In all countries a proportion of the GP’s prescribed higher initial prednisolone doses than recommended, with a large variation between countries (Table 1).

Table 1.

Characteristics of responders, referral pattern, and treatment strategy

AustriaCanadaColombiaDenmarkItalyNether-landsNew ZealandRomaniaRussiaSwitzer-landUnited KingdomRespondersResponders (n), Completed questionnaire (total)26 (29)15 (15)17 (23)53 (53)36 (41)22 (22)17 (17)37 (43)42 (49)26 (26)34 (35)Experience (years)20 (12-34)8 (4-10)6 (4-9)12 (10-17)15 (5-27)23 (17-30)14 (9-27)21 (16-30)6 (5-9)26 (15-32)16 (11-24)Available PMR/GCA guideline, n (%)26 (100)15(100)17 (100)53 (100)36 (100)22 (100)17 (100)37 (100)42 (100)26 (100)34 (100)Adherence to guideline, n (%)21 (82)15 (100)17 (100)51 (97)34 (94)21 (95)17 (100)37 (100)42 (100)26 (100)34 (100)ReferralsNew PMR patients referred for diagnose (%)58 (10-100)50 (2-100)100 (13-100)50-(20-100)60 (28-100)20 (10-50)10 (10-20)60 (10-88)1 (1-2)28 (10-50)10 (1-25)Patients returned to GP for treatment (%)100 (50-100)50 (2-100)8 (0-50)85 (40-100)50 (0-100)50 (10-90)100 (90-100)80 (50-98)1 (1-1)80 (10-100)100 (100-100)Patients referred during treatment (%)50 (25-90)50 (10-100)100 (50-100)20 (10-33)50 (15-80)15 (10-30)20 (10-25)30 (10-80)1(1-1)20 (10-30)10 (10-20)PrednisoloneInitial dose (mg)38 (25-50)20 (20-50)20 (10-30)25 (15-40)25 (25-25)15 (15-15)20 (15-40)15 (12-20)15 (15-15)50 (25-50)15 (15-20)Initial dose > 25 mg, n (%)12 (47)4 (25)7 (40)14 (26)9 (25)1 (5)6 (38)7 (20)3 (8)22 (83)3 (9)Duration of treatment (months)9 (6-12)6 (2-9)6 (4-24)12 (8-18)5 (3-12)11 (6-12)12 (10-18)2 (2-5)6 (6-6)12 (12-14)15 (12-24)

Data are presented as weighted median (interquartile range) unless otherwise stated. GP: general practitioner, PMR: polymyalgia rheumatica, GCA: great cell arteritis.

Conclusion

Although many patients were referred to the hospital for initial PMR diagnosis or during the disease course, a large proportion of patients received treatment in general practice worldwide. GPs frequently use a higher starting dose of prednisolone and shorter treatment duration than recommended by EULAR/ACR.

References

[1]Dejaco C, Singh YP, Perel P, et al. 2015 Recommendations for the management of polymyalgia rheumatica: a European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology collaborative initiative. Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2015; 74(10): 1799-807.

[2]Helliwell T, Hider SL, Mallen CD. Polymyalgia rheumatica: diagnosis, prescribing, and monitoring in general practice. The British journal of general practice: the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 2013; 63(610): e361-6.

Acknowledgements

This study was endorsed by the international PMR/GCA study group.

Disclosure of Interests

Agnete Overgaard Donskov: None declared, Sarah Mackie: None declared, Ellen-Margrethe Hauge Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Sanofi, Sobi, MSD, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Sanofi, Sobi, MSD, UCB, Grant/research support from: Novo Nordic Foundation, Danish Rheumatism Association, Danish Regions Medicine Grants, Roche, Novartis,Celgene, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Sobi, CARLOS TORO GUTIÉRREZ: None declared, Andrea Hemmig: None declared, Aatke van der Maas: None declared, Berit Dalsgaard NIelsen Paid instructor for: Roche, Ib Hansen: None declared, Max Yates: None declared, Line Frølund: None declared, Karen Douglas: None declared, Kornelis van der Geest Speakers bureau: Roche, Elena Rezus: None declared, Sara Monti: None declared, Margarita Gromova: None declared, Vanessa Ocampo Speakers bureau: Abvie, Simone Appenzeller Speakers bureau: Janssen, UCB, Lilly and Pfizer, Mariama Erraoui: None declared, Adeola Ajibade: None declared, Andre Marun Lyrio: None declared, Rebecca Grainger: None declared, Maria Sandovici: None declared, Toby Helliwell: None declared, Elisabeth Brouwer Speakers bureau: Roche, Consultant of: Roche, Christian Dejaco Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Galapagos and Sanofi, Consultant of: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Roche, Galapagos and Sanofi, Kresten Keller: None declared

OP0249 CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH POOR COVID-19 OUTCOMES IN PEOPLE WITH PSORIASIS AND SPONDYLOARTHRITIS: DATA FROM THE COVID-19 PsoProtect AND GLOBAL RHEUMATOLOGY ALLIANCE PHYSICIAN-REPORTED REGISTRIES

Background

Some factors associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes have been identified in patients with psoriasis (PsO) and inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic diseases, namely older age, male sex, comorbidity burden, higher disease activity, and certain medications such as rituximab. However, information about specificities of patients with PsO, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), including disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) specifically licensed for these conditions, such as IL-17 inhibitors (IL-17i), IL-23/IL-12 + 23 inhibitors (IL-23/IL-12 + 23i), and apremilast, is lacking.

Objectives

To determine characteristics associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes in people with PsO, PsA and axSpA.

Methods

This study was a pooled analysis of data from two physician-reported registries: the Psoriasis Patient Registry for Outcomes, Therapy and Epidemiology of COVID-19 Infection (PsoProtect), comprising patients with PsO/PsA, and the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (GRA) registry, comprising patients with PsA/axSpA. Data from the beginning of the pandemic up to 25 October, 2021 were included. An ordinal severity outcome was defined as: 1) not hospitalised, 2) hospitalised without death, and 3) death. A multivariable ordinal logistic regression model was constructed to assess the relationship between COVID-19 severity and demographic characteristics (age, sex, time period of infection), comorbidities (hypertension, other cardiovascular disease [CVD], chronic obstructive lung disease [COPD], asthma, other chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer, smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus [DM]), rheumatic/skin disease (PsO, PsA, axSpA), physician-reported disease activity, and medication exposure (methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine, TNFi, IL17i, IL-23/IL-12 + 23i, Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi), apremilast, glucocorticoids [GC] and NSAIDs). Age-adjustment was performed employing four-knot restricted cubic splines. Country-adjustment was performed using random effects.

Results

A total of 5008 individuals with PsO (n=921), PsA (n=2263) and axSpA (n=1824) were included. Mean age was 50 years (SD 13.5) and 51.8% were male. Hospitalisation (without death) was observed in 14.6% of cases and 1.8% died. In the multivariable model, the following variables were associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes: older age (Figure 1), male sex (OR 1.53, 95%CI 1.29-1.82), CVD (hypertension alone: 1.26, 1.02-1.56; other CVD alone: 1.89, 1.22-2.94; vs no hypertension and no other CVD), COPD or asthma (1.75, 1.32-2.32), other lung disease (2.56, 1.66-3.97), chronic kidney disease (2.32, 1.50-3.59), obesity and DM (obesity alone: 1.36, 1.07-1.71; DM alone: 1.85, 1.39-2.47; obesity and DM: 1.89, 1.34-2.67; vs no obesity and no DM), higher disease activity and GC intake (remission/low disease activity and GC intake: 1.96, 1.36-2.82; moderate/severe disease activity and no GC intake: 1.35, 1.05-1.72; moderate/severe disease activity and GC intake 2.30, 1.41-3.74; vs remission/low disease activity and no GC intake). Conversely, the following variables were associated with less severe COVID-19 outcomes: time period after 15 June 2020 (16 June 2020-31 December 2020: 0.42, 0.34-0.51; 1 January 2021 onwards: 0.52, 0.41-0.67; vs time period until 15 June 2020), a diagnosis of PsO (without arthritis) (0.49, 0.37-0.65; vs PsA), and exposure to TNFi (0.58, 0.45-0.75; vs no DMARDs), IL17i (0.63, 0.45-0.88; vs no DMARDs), IL-23/IL-12 + 23i (0.68, 0.46-0.997; vs no DMARDs) and NSAIDs (0.77, 0.60-0.98; vs no NSAIDs).

Conclusion

More severe COVID-19 outcomes in PsO, PsA and axSpA are largely driven by demographic factors (age, sex), comorbidities, and active disease. None of the DMARDs typically used in PsO, PsA and axSpA, were associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes, including IL-17i, IL-23/IL-12 + 23i, JAKi and apremilast.

Acknowledgements

We thank all the contributors to the COVID-19 PsoProtect, GRA and EULAR Registries.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Recovery from aortic valve surgery: the trajectory of muscle mass, strength, and quality, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL)

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Barts Charity

OnBehalf

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Barts Health NHS Trust

Background/Introduction:

The impact of intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICUAW) is considerable and is associated with reduced physical function and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Patients’ undergoing elective cardiac surgery are known to lose significant muscle mass and strength in the first seven days after surgery, but little is known beyond that time. 

Purpose

We sought to investigate the effect of cardiac surgery on ICUAW (including muscle mass, strength, muscle quality) and HRQoL (including anxiety and depression and reintegration into society) until out-patient follow-up.

Methods

Eligible patients included adults undergoing a surgical elective aortic valve replacement without any pre-existing causes of severe muscle weakness or wasting. Muscle mass was measured using ultrasound of the rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFcsa). Muscle quality was calculated using histogram analysis, specifically pixel intensity (PI), whereby a lower value is indicative of healthier muscle tissue. Muscle strength was measured using hand-held dynamometry specifically grip strength. HRQoL (EQ5D), anxiety and depression (hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS)) and reintegration to normal living (RNLI index) were also collected. Measurements were assessed preoperatively, at day 7 and at out-patient follow-up.

Results

Thirty-one patients were recruited, with 22 (70.9%) patients attending follow-up. Patients lost 6.5% RFcsa (p= &lt;0.0001) in the first seven days post-surgery and 10.1% (p = 0.0014) between preoperative assessment and follow-up. Hand-held grip strength decreased significantly (10.6%, p= &lt;0.0001) in the first seven days post-surgery, however, differing to RFcsa, recovered considerably between day 7 and follow-up (7.7%, p = 0.018). Decreased muscle quality was observed solely in the first seven days after surgery (8.3%, p = 0.0094). The EQ5D visual analogue scale and crosswalk index increased significantly from preoperative assessment to follow-up (10%, p = 0.0250; 17.6%, p = 0.022 respectively) and day 7 to follow-up (11.7%, p = 0.0311; 27.9%, p = 0.011 respectively). While depression scores significantly decreased between the same time points as the EQ5D, changes in anxiety and RNLI scores, were non-significant.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacements lose considerable muscle mass in hospital, failing to recover even at out-patient follow-up. Furthermore, muscle quality decreases in the first seven days after surgery in line with the acute muscle loss. However, the impact on strength is less extensive as patients appear to recover the loss by follow-up. Patients’ health scores, function index and depression scores also improve, suggesting that muscle mass is the only outcome to not recover at follow-up. Therefore, patients appear to recover well from AVR surgery even surpassing some of their preoperative results, with the exception of the RFcsa.

Risk-mitigating behaviours in people with inflammatory skin and joint disease during the COVID-19 pandemic differ by treatment type: a cross-sectional patient survey

BACKGROUND

Registry data suggest that people with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) receiving targeted systemic therapies have fewer adverse coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes compared with patients receiving no systemic treatments.

OBJECTIVES

We used international patient survey data to explore the hypothesis that greater risk-mitigating behaviour in those receiving targeted therapies may account, at least in part, for this observation.

METHODS

Online surveys were completed by individuals with psoriasis (globally) or rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) (UK only) between 4 May and 7 September 2020. We used multiple logistic regression to assess the association between treatment type and risk-mitigating behaviour, adjusting for clinical and demographic characteristics. We characterized international variation in a mixed-effects model.

RESULTS

Of 3720 participants (2869 psoriasis, 851 RMDs) from 74 countries, 2262 (60·8%) reported the most stringent risk-mitigating behaviour (classified here under the umbrella term 'shielding'). A greater proportion of those receiving targeted therapies (biologics and Janus Kinase inhibitors) reported shielding compared with those receiving no systemic therapy [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1·63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·35-1·97]. The association between targeted therapy and shielding was preserved when standard systemic therapy was used as the reference group (OR 1·39, 95% CI 1·23-1·56). Shielding was associated with established risk factors for severe COVID-19 [male sex (OR 1·14, 95% CI 1·05-1·24), obesity (OR 1·37, 95% CI 1·23-1·54), comorbidity burden (OR 1·43, 95% CI 1·15-1·78)], a primary indication of RMDs (OR 1·37, 95% CI 1·27-1·48) and a positive anxiety or depression screen (OR 1·57, 95% CI 1·36-1·80). Modest differences in the proportion shielding were observed across nations.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater risk-mitigating behaviour among people with IMIDs receiving targeted therapies may contribute to the reported lower risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes. The behaviour variation across treatment groups, IMIDs and nations reinforces the need for clear evidence-based patient communication on risk-mitigation strategies and may help inform updated public health guidelines as the pandemic continues.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic social restriction measures on people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in the UK: a mixed-methods study

OBJECTIVES

To determine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic social restriction measures on people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) and to explore how people adapted to these measures over time.

DESIGN

Mixed-methods investigation comprising a national online longitudinal survey and embedded qualitative study.

SETTING

UK online survey and interviews with community-dwelling individuals in the East of England.

PARTICIPANTS

People in the UK with RMDs were invited to participate in an online survey. A subsection of respondents were invited to participate in the embedded qualitative study.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The online survey, completed fortnightly over 10 weeks from April 2020 to August 2020, investigated changes in symptoms, social isolation and loneliness, resilience and optimism. Qualitative interviews were undertaken assessing participant's perspectives on changes in symptoms, exercising, managing instrumental tasks such a shopping, medication and treatment regimens and how they experienced changes in their social networks.

RESULTS

703 people with RMDs completed the online survey. These people frequently reported a deterioration in symptoms as a result of COVID-19 pandemic social restrictions (52% reported increase vs 6% reported a decrease). This was significantly worse for those aged 18-60 years compared with older participants (p=0.017). The qualitative findings from 26 individuals with RMDs suggest that the greatest change in daily life was experienced by those in employment. Although some retired people reported reduced opportunity for exercise outside their homes, they did not face the many competing demands experienced by employed people and people with children at home.

CONCLUSIONS

People with RMDs reported a deterioration in symptoms when COVID-19 pandemic social restriction measures were enforced. This was worse for working-aged people. Consideration of this at-risk group, specifically for the promotion of physical activity, changing home-working practices and awareness of healthcare provision is important, as social restrictions continue in the UK.

POS0959 DIAGNOSTIC DELAY IN AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS: RESULTS FROM THE NATIONAL EARLY INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS AUDIT

Background:

Diagnostic delay is a significant problem in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and there is a growing body of evidence showing that delayed axSpA diagnosis is associated with worse clinical, humanistic and economic outcomes.1 International guidelines have been published to inform referral pathways and improve standards of care for patients with axSpA.2,3

Objectives:

To describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of newly-referred patients with axSpA in England and Wales in the National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA), with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and mechanical back pain (MBP) as comparators.

Methods:

The NEIAA captures data on all new patients over the age of 16 referred with suspected inflammatory arthritis to rheumatology departments in England and Wales.4 We describe baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of axSpA patients (n=784) recruited to the NEIAA between May 2018 and March 2020, compared with RA (n=9,270) and MBP (n=370) during the same period.

Results:

Symptom duration prior to initial rheumatology assessment was significantly longer in axSpA than RA patients (p<0.001), and non-significantly longer in axSpA than MBP patients (p=0.062): 79.7% of axSpA patients had symptom durations of >6 months, compared to 33.7% of RA patients and 76.0% of MBP patients; 32.6% of axSpA patients had symptom durations of >5 years, compared to 3.5% of RA patients and 24.6% of MBP patients (Figure 1A). Following referral, median time to initial rheumatology assessment was longer for axSpA than RA patients (36 vs. 24 days; p<0.001), and similar to MBP patients (39 days; p=0.30). The proportion of axSpA patients assessed within 3 weeks of referral increased from 26.7% in May 2018 to 34.7% in March 2020; compared to an increase from 38.2% to 54.5% for RA patients (Figure 1B). A large majority of axSpA referrals originated from primary care (72.4%) or musculoskeletal triage services (14.1%), with relatively few referrals from gastroenterology (1.9%), ophthalmology (1.4%) or dermatology (0.4%).

Of the subset of patients with peripheral arthritis requiring EIA pathway follow-up, fewer axSpA than RA patients had disease education provided (77.5% vs. 97.8%; p<0.001), and RA patients reported a better understanding of their condition (p<0.001). HAQ-DI scores were lower at baseline in axSpA EIA patients than RA EIA patients (0.8 vs 1.1, respectively; p=0.004), whereas baseline Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ) scores were similar (25 vs. 24, respectively; p=0.49). The burden of disease was substantial across the 14 domains comprising MSK-HQ in both axSpA and RA (Figure 1C).

Conclusion:

We have shown that diagnostic delay remains a major challenge in axSpA, despite improved disease understanding and updated referral guidelines. Patient education is an unmet need in axSpA, highlighting the need for specialist clinics. MSK-HQ scores demonstrated that the functional impact of axSpA is no less than for RA, whereas HAQ-DI may underrepresent disability in axSpA.

References:

[1]Yi E, Ahuja A, Rajput T, George AT, Park Y. Clinical, economic, and humanistic burden associated with delayed diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic review. Rheumatol Ther. 2020;7:65-87.

[2]NICE. Spondyloarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management. 2017.

[3]van der Heijde D, Ramiro S, Landewe R, et al. 2016 update of the ASAS-EULAR management recommendations for axial spondyloarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(6):978-91.

[4]British Society for Rheumatology. National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA) Second Annual Report. 2021.

Acknowledgements:

The National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit is commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership, funded by NHS England and Improvement, and the Welsh Government, and carried out by the British Society for Rheumatology, King’s College London and Net Solving.

Disclosure of Interests:

Mark Russell Grant/research support from: UCB, Pfizer, Fiona Coath: None declared, Mark Yates Grant/research support from: UCB, Abbvie, Katie Bechman: None declared, Sam Norton: None declared, James Galloway Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Celgene, Chugai, Gilead, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Jo Ledingham: None declared, Raj Sengupta Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Biogen, Celgene, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Karl Gaffney Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Biogen, Cellgene, Celltrion, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, UCB.

POS1448 EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE: WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE THAT BRITISH SOCIETY FOR RHEUMATOLOGY GUIDELINES ARE EVIDENCE BASED?

Background:

Clinical practice guidelines are designed to ensure that patients are treated according to best evidence, with the goal of optimizing clinical outcomes and reducing unwarranted variation in care. They compile, rate and translate the data available into recommendations that form the basis of evidence-based practice for most clinicians. Despite their importance, the evidence base informing different guidelines varies in quality. A recent study of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Practice Guidelines demonstrated only 17 of 35 class I (strong benefit to harm ratio) recommendations were supported by level A evidence (high quality randomized controlled trails or meta-analyses)1.

Objectives:

To review the evidence supporting the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) guidelines.

Methods:

Thirteen sets of guidelines that were available on the BSR website as of October 16th 2019 were reviewed (https://www.rheumatology.org.uk/practice-quality/guidelines). A range of methodologies (including Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), EULAR and Royal College of Physicians (RCP) recommendations) were used to assess the quality of evidence and strength of recommendation. For comparability between guidelines the level of evidence was converted to a score between I (highest quality) and IV (lowest quality) and the strength of recommendation was converted to a rating between A and D. The polymyalgia rheumatica guideline was not assessed due to unclear methodology and lack of level of evidence for all recommendations.

Results:

Of the 12 BSR guidelines assessed, there were 554 recommendations in total. The number of recommendations per guideline ranged between 13 and 80. Across all assessed guidelines, 94 recommendations (17.0%) were classified as level I, 161 (29.1%) as level 2 and 299 (54.0%) as level 3 or 4. These figures are similar to those reported in the ACR guidelines (23%, 19% and 58% respectively)1. The proportion of level I evidence varied from 46.2% (Axial Spondyloarthropathy guideline) to 0% (Hot Swollen Joint guideline).

Conclusion:

Over half of all BSR guideline recommendations have level of supporting evidence of III/IV. A wide range of methodologies are used to generate BSR guidelines (GRADE, SIGN, RCP / EULAR). This makes it challenging for readers unfamiliar with these approaches to interpret evidence and hinders comparisons between guidelines. A standardized methodology for future guideline development would overcome these barriers.

References:

[1]Duarte-Garcia A, Zamore R & Wong JB. The Evidence Basis for the American College of Rheumatology Practice Guidelines. JAMA Intern Med, 2018 Jan 1;178(1):146-148.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Clinical and biomechanical factors associated with falls and rheumatoid arthritis: baseline cohort with longitudinal nested case-control study

OBJECTIVE

To identify the clinical and biomechanical characteristics associated with falls in people with RA.

METHODS

A total of 436 people ≥60 years of age with RA completed a 1 year prospective survey of falls in the UK. At baseline, questionnaires recorded data including personal and medical history, pain and fatigue scores, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical activity and medication history. The occurrence of falls wasmonitored prospectively over 12 months by monthly self-reporting. A nested sample of 30 fallers (defined as the report of one or more falls in 12 months) and 30 non-fallers was evaluated to assess joint range of motion (ROM), muscle strength and gait parameters. Multivariate regression analyses were undertaken to determine variables associated with falling.

RESULTS

Compared with non-fallers (n = 236), fallers (n = 200) were older (P = 0.05), less likely to be married (P = 0.03), had higher pain scores (P < 0.01), experienced more frequent dizziness (P < 0.01), were frequently taking psychotropic medications (P = 0.02) and reported lower HRQoL (P = 0.02). Among those who underwent gait laboratory assessments, compared with non-fallers, fallers showed a greater anteroposterior (AP; P = 0.03) and medial-lateral (ML) sway range (P = 0.02) and reduced isokinetic peak torque and isometric strength at 60° knee flexion (P = 0.03). Fallers also showed shorter stride length (P = 0.04), shorter double support time (P = 0.04) and reduced percentage time in swing phase (P = 0.02) and in knee range of motion through the gait cycle (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

People with RA have distinct clinical and biomechanical characteristics that place them at increased risk of falling. Assessment for these factors may be important to offer more targeted rehabilitation interventions.

Rationalizing PROTAC-Mediated Ternary Complex Formation Using Rosetta

Proteolysis-targeting chimaeras (PROTACs) are molecules that combine a target-binding warhead with an E3 ligase-recruiting moiety; by drawing the target protein into a ternary complex with the E3 ligase, PROTACs induce target protein degradation. While PROTACs hold exciting potential as chemical probes and as therapeutic agents, development of a PROTAC typically requires synthesis of numerous analogs to thoroughly explore variations on the chemical linker; without extensive trial and error, it is unclear how to link the two protein-recruiting moieties to promote formation of a productive ternary complex. Here, we describe a structure-based computational method for evaluating the suitability of a given linker for ternary complex formation. Our method uses Rosetta to dock the protein components and then builds the PROTAC from its component fragments into each binding mode; complete models of the ternary complex are then refined. We apply this approach to retrospectively evaluate multiple PROTACs from the literature, spanning diverse target proteins. We find that modeling ternary complex formation is sufficient to explain both activity and selectivity reported for these PROTACs, implying that other cellular factors are not key determinants of activity in these cases. We further find that interpreting PROTAC activity is best approached using an ensemble of structures of the ternary complex rather than a single static conformation and that members of a structurally conserved protein family can be recruited by the same PROTAC through vastly different binding modes. To encourage adoption of these methods and promote further analyses, we disseminate both the computational methods and the models of ternary complexes.

Feasibility and Face Validity of Outcome Measures for Use in Future Studies of Polymyalgia Rheumatica: An OMERACT Study

OBJECTIVE

To survey participants with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) to evaluate the face validity, acceptability, and domain match of proposed candidate outcome measures.

METHODS

A structured, online, anonymous survey was disseminated by patient support groups through their networks and online forums. The candidate outcome measures comprised (1) visual analog scale (VAS) and numerical rating score (NRS) to assess pain; (2) VAS, NRS, and duration to assess stiffness; (3) the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index to assess physical function; and (4) C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate to assess inflammation. Free-text answers were analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis to determine respondents' views of the candidate instruments.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight people with PMR from 6 countries (UK, France, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) participated in the survey. Most respondents agreed candidate instruments were acceptable or "good to go." Free-text analysis identified 5 themes that participants considered inadequately covered by the proposed instruments. These related to (1) the variability, context, and location of pain; (2) the variability of stiffness; (3) fatigue; (4) disability; and (5) the correlation of inflammatory marker levels and severity of symptoms, sometimes reflecting disease activity and other times not.

CONCLUSION

Participants reported additional aspects of their experience that are not covered by the proposed instruments, particularly for the experience of stiffness and effect of fatigue. New patient-reported outcome measures are required to increase the relevance of results from clinical trials to patients with PMR.

Cardiovascular risk factors associated with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis in a prospective cohort: EPIC-Norfolk Study

OBJECTIVES

PMR and GCA are associated with increased risk of vascular disease. However, it remains unclear whether this relationship is causal or reflects a common underlying propensity. The aim of this study was to identify whether known cardiovascular risk factors increase the risk of PMR and GCA.

METHODS

Clinical records were examined using key word searches to identify cases of PMR and GCA, applying current classification criteria in a population-based cohort. Associations between cardiovascular risk factors and incident PMR and GCA were analysed using Cox proportional hazards.

RESULTS

In 315 022 person years of follow-up, there were 395 incident diagnoses of PMR and 118 incident diagnoses of GCA that met the clinical definition. Raised diastolic blood pressure (>90 mmHg) at baseline/recruitment was associated with subsequent incident PMR [hazard ratio=1.35 (95% CI 1.01, 1.80) P=0.045], and ever-smoking was associated with incident GCA [hazard ratio=2.01 (95% CI 1.26, 3.20) P=0.003]. Estimates were similar when the analysis was restricted to individuals whose diagnoses satisfied the current classification criteria sets.

CONCLUSION

PMR and GCA shares common risk factors with vascular disease onset, suggesting a common underlying propensity. This may indicate a potential for disease prevention strategies through modifying cardiovascular risk.

FRI0561 PRO-INFLAMMATORY DIETS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN THE UK BIOBANK COHORT

Background:

Several individual dietary components have been associated with the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and recent studies have suggested that dietary indices, which account for the consumption of multiple foods, can be used as more complete measures of risk.

Objectives:

In this study we aimed to use the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), an independent index of dietary variable associated with inflammatory biomarkers, to evaluate potential associations between pro-inflammatory exposures in the diet, an inflammation biomarker (C-reactive protein) and RA onset using the UK Biobank cohort.

Methods:

The DII was calculated from data obtained in 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires collected on healthy participants on four separate occasions over an approximate annual period between Feb 2011 and April 2012. Cases of RA in the UK Biobank cohort were identified from the participants with appropriate ICD10 codes and compared against a randomly selected subsample of controls matched (20:1) for age, sex, smoking status and BMI.

Results:

Among the 502,519 subjects enrolled in Biobank, 141,769 had completed 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires and had full data for the 18 dietary variables that were required to create the DII (mean=0.03, range: -3.88, 4.22). Higher (positive) DII values indicate more pro-inflammatory diets. This index was positively correlated (p<0.001) with C-reactive protein (CRP), attesting to the validity of this index for assessing dietary inflammatory potential. A total of 1,423 participants were classified as having RA (1% prevalence in ‘dietary’ cohort of 141,769) according to their ICD10 codes that were last updated in 2018. Their mean age at enrolment (2006-10) was 59 years. There was a significant association between DII and RA: OR 1.05 [1.01-1.09]; p=0.028) that suggested RA cases were more likely to be consuming a pro-inflammatory diet.

Conclusion:

These data show a significant association between diet, inflammation (CRP) and RA in the UK Biobank population. The findings are consistent with a recent analysis of the US Nurse’s Health Study which was based on data only from females, indicating that these findings are likely to be robust and generalisable. Diet is one of the few modifiable factors that has the potential to reduce the risk of future RA onset. These results open the way to providing evidence-based health advice and for designing clinical interventions.

References:

[1] Shivappa N, Steck SE, Hurley TG, Hussey JR, Hebert JR. Designing and developing a literature-derived, population-based dietary inflammatory index. Public health nutrition 2014;17:1689-96.

Acknowledgments:

This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource under Application Number ‘33557’

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

THU0130 PATTERNS OF COGNITIVE DECLINE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: RESULTS OF CASE CONTROL STUDY NESTED IN A POPULATION-BASED COHORT

Background:

The risk of cognitive decline and dementia is of particular interest for patients exposed to prolonged inflammation. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the inflammatory mechanisms that are central to the disease’s pathology share many features with those seen in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, published reports on the strength and direction of the putative associations with cognitive decline and dementia in RA are conflicting and the potential impact of immunomodulation has not been fully established. This study reports on a case control analysis comparing the results of a cognitive test conducted in RA cases from a longitudinal population register with healthy controls. The relationship between test outcomes, disease characteristics, and treatment is examined.

Objectives:

To characterise differences in cognitive function as assessed by a validated test battery between a group of patients with RA and a matched sample of healthy controls.

To investigate disease and treatment related factors that might have an impact on the cognitive function of patients with RA.

Methods:

A total of 38 people with RA were selected at random from subjects who had enrolled on the Norfolk Arthritis Register as part of the ICORA (Investigation of Cognition in RA) Study. The register is a large longitudinal inception cohort of patients recruited from both primary and secondary care. The study subjects were over 55 years old with a diagnosis of RA defined by the ACR criteria. Cognitive function was assessed using the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III) battery. The ACE-III is a validated screening test for dementia that evaluates five cognitive domains (attention, memory, verbal fluency, language and visuospatial skills). A cut off value of 82 is indicative of cognitive impairment. The ACE-III scores in the cases were compared with scores from 29 healthy population-based controls matched for age and sex.

Results:

The mean age of the patient and control groups was 69 years. The RA patients had a mean disease duration of 9.8 years and had been taking DMARDs for 7.1 years. Among the patient group with RA, 14 (37%) scored below 82 compared with none in the group of healthy controls. The mean ACE-III scores of both groups are shown in the table below:

Controls N=29RA N=38ACE-III Total95.2 (3.7)85.2 (7.4)•Attention17.7 (0.5)16.5 (1.9)•Memory24.6 (1.9)19.8 (4.0)•Fluency12 (1.4)9.9 (2.6)•Language25.5 (0.8)24.6 (1.7)•Visuospatial15.8 (0.5)14.4 (1.5)

After adjusting for age, sex, BMI and smoking status, significant differences were seen in the ACE-III total (adjusted mean difference(SE)=8.67(1.77); p<0.001), memory (adjusted mean difference(SE)=4.16(1.03); p<0.001), fluency (adjusted mean difference(SE)=2.29(0.67); p=0.001) and visuospatial (adjusted mean difference(SE)=1.36(0.38); p<0.001). There was no difference in attention (p=0.19) or language (p=0.10).

Among the patients with RA there was no clear association between disease duration and ACE-III Total scores; however, there was a trend for increasing cognitive scores in those who had been taking DMARDs for longer (<5 years: mean ACE-III Total=84.1; 5-10 years: 85.0: 11-14 years: 85.4; >14 years: 89.6).

Conclusion:

This study provides evidence to suggest that patients with established RA are at increased risk of cognitive decline when compared with healthy controls. The pattern of cognitive deficit, predominantly involving visuospatial and memory function, is consistent with an Alzheimer’s disease profile. Our data suggest a potential role for DMARDs in reducing the rate of cognitive decline in patients with RA.

Disclosure of Interests:

Tasuku Toyoda: None declared, Jacqueline Chipping: None declared, Jack Dainty: None declared, Stephen Jeffs: None declared, Michael Hornberger: None declared, Eneida Mioshi: None declared, Suzanne Verstappen Grant/research support from: BMS, Consultant of: Celltrion, Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Max Yates: None declared, Alex MacGregor: None declared

FRI0198 OCULAR MORBIDITY IN PATIENTS WITH PMR AND GCA IN THE UK - A CPRD STUDY

Background:

Visual loss is the most serious consequences of a diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA). To date, information on the occurrence of eye disease in GCA has been based almost exclusively on small hospital-based patient series. Furthermore the lack of control group for these studies results in a lack of relative risk estimates for visual loss.

There are no accurate data on the prevalence and nature of eye complications among patients in the community. Patients with GCA may be exclusively managed in the primary care setting without referral for either temporal artery biopsy or ophthalmic department examination. Currently the incidence and prevalence of eye complications within this group are unknown.

Objectives:

Examine the absolute rate and relative risk of ocular morbidity, in a longitudinal community setting, in patients with PMR and or GCA including visual loss, AOIN including optic atrophy, cataract and glaucoma identified from Read codes in the (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) CPRD dataset.

Methods:

Construction of a disease cohort of incident diagnoses of PMR and GCA from patients in the CPRD matched to controls on age, sex (+/- 2 years) and practice location. Diagnosis were identified by CPRD researchers of those individuals between January 1997 to December 2015, with a minimum age at diagnosis of 50 years. Those with both a diagnosis of PMR and GCA were analysed in the GCA group. The outcomes of ocular morbidity included Read codes for severe visual impairment (multiple codes covered: blindness, severe visual impairment, registered partially sighted, issue of certificate of visual impairment, examination findings of 4/60 or worse), anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (including codes of optic neuropathy and atrophy but not codes of glaucomatous atrophy), cataract, cataract extraction and glaucoma. Statistically modelling with Cox proportional hazards was used to generate hazard ratios for ocular morbidity taking account of censorship through death and moving out of area.

Results:

We identified 30,714 individuals with PMR (20,270 women; 66%) with a mean age at diagnosis of 72.9 year (sd 9.1) and 6,104 with GCA (4,309 women; 70.6%) with a mean age of 72.1 years (sd 9.4). Of those diagnosed with GCA 1,669 were also diagnosed with PMR. Using Read codes for severe visual impairment and blindness 5.9% of patients with GCA and 2.7% with PMR had this complication compared with 1.6% of the matched controls. The hazard ratio for the various ocular morbidities and by cases of PMR or GCA are shown in the table below:

Ocular morbidityPMR HR (95% CI) p valueGCA HR (95% CI) p valueSevere visual impairment1.76 (1.60, 1.94) p=<0.0013.55 (3.10, 4.08) p=<0.001Anterior ischaemic optic atrophy3.37 (2.15, 5.31) p=<0.00136.33 (25.19, 52.39) p=<0.001Cataract2.18 (2.04, 2.32) p=<0.0012.48 (2.22, 2.78) p=<0.001Cataract operation2.11 (1.97, 2.25) p=<0.0012.41 (2.13, 2.72) p=<0.001Glaucoma2.10 (1.91, 2.32) p=<0.0012.50 (2.10, 2.97) p=<0.001

Conclusion:

These community-based national data on risk of ocular morbidity in PMR and GCA show for the first time the risk of various ocular morbidities are increased for both groups. In addition this are the first estimates of relative risk compared to an age and sex matched population. These data are crucial for providing information to patients about their relative risk of ocular morbidity following a diagnosis of PMR or GCA.

Acknowledgments:

We would like to thank Dr Helen Strongman at the CPRD for carrying out patient searchers. We thank Dr Ferran Espuny Pujol for completion of the linkage request for dates of death.

Disclosure of Interests:

Max Yates: None declared, Allan Clark: None declared, Richard Watts: None declared, Alex MacGregor: None declared, Sarah Mackie Grant/research support from: Roche (attendance of EULAR 2019; co-applicant on research grant), Consultant of: Sanofi, Roche/Chugai (monies paid to my institution not to me)

Toward a Core Outcome Measurement Set for Polymyalgia Rheumatica: Report from the OMERACT 2018 Special Interest Group

Objective.

To report the progress of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Working Group in selecting candidate instruments for a core outcome measurement set.

Methods.

A systematic literature review identified outcomes measured and instruments used in PMR studies, and a respondent survey and raw data analysis assessed their domain match and feasibility.

Results.

Candidate instruments were identified for pain [visual analog scale/numerical rating scale (VAS/NRS)], stiffness (VAS/NRS and duration), and physical function (Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index/modified Health Assessment Questionnaire). Domain match and feasibility assessments were favorable; however, validation in PMR was lacking.

Conclusion.

Further assessment of candidate instruments is required prior to recommending a PMR core outcome measurement set.

Validation of the EULAR/ERA-EDTA recommendations for the management of ANCA-associated vasculitis by disease content experts

The European League Against Rheumatism recommendations for the management of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis have been recently published. Unique to recommendation development, they were also voted on by members of a learned society. This paper explores the wider validity of the recommendations among people who self-identify as clinicians caring for patients with vasculitis. In addition to the task force, a learned society (European Vasculitis Society—EUVAS) was invited, through online survey, to rate independently the strength of evidence of each recommendation to obtain an indication of the agreement among the final target audience and ultimate end-users of the recommendations. The survey took place in June 2015. Of the 158 EUVAS members surveyed, there were 88 responses (55.7%). There was a large degree of agreement in the voting patterns between EUVAS survey participants and task force members. Notable exceptions were lower grades for the recommendation of the use of rituximab for remission induction in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis and for methotrexate and mycophenolate mofetil as remission maintenance agents in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis/microscopic polyangiitis by EUVAS members. These results are encouraging and suggest that the voting patterns of the task force are representative of the wider vasculitis community. We recommend future recommendations adopt this approach for data/expert-based treatment guidelines, especially for multisystem diseases.

ANCA-associated vasculitis

The vasculitides are a heterogeneous group of conditions typified by their ability to cause vessel inflammation with or without necrosis. They present with a wide variety of signs and symptoms and, if left untreated, carry a significant burden of mortality and morbidity. The antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are three separate conditions - granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; previously known as Churg-Strauss syndrome). This review examines recent developments in the pathogenesis and treatment of AAV, focusing on developments in treatment following the introduction of rituximab, in particular.