Comorbidities in Privately Insured South Africans With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Introduction Comorbidities in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) impact negatively on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and life expectancy. We investigated the frequency and spectrum of comorbidities in privately insured South Africans with SLE. Methods The data of SLE patients based on International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes and insured with Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS), South Africa, aged ≥16 years at diagnosis and with ≥6 months of follow-up were reviewed. Demographics, comorbidities listed in the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), other common comorbidities, intercurrent illnesses, and drug therapy were documented. Results Of the 520 patients coded as SLE, 207 met the inclusion criteria. Most were females (90.8%), with a median (interquartile range {IQR}) age and follow-up duration of 39 (30.3-53.0) and 6.1 (3.7-8.1) years, respectively. All patients had at least one comorbidity; the most frequent CCI comorbidities were pulmonary disease (30.9%), congestive heart failure (CHF, 15%), and renal disease (14.0%). Other common comorbidities were hypertension (53.1%) and mood and anxiety disorders (46.9%). Urinary tract infections (UTIs, 37.7%) and pneumonia (33.8%) were common intercurrent illnesses. The independent predictors of CHF were renal disease (odds ratio {OR}=855), dyslipidemia (OR=15.3), and male gender (OR=43.0); the independent predictors of hypertension were age at diagnosis (OR=1.03), type 2 diabetes (OR=4.45), and renal disease (OR=4.34); and the independent predictors of mood and anxiety disorders were female gender (OR=3.98), stroke (OR=3.18), UTI (OR=2.39), and chloroquine use (OR=1.94). Conclusion In this study of privately insured South Africans with SLE, comorbidities were common, and all patients had at least one comorbidity. Hypertension, infections, and mood and anxiety disorders were the leading comorbidities overall, and pulmonary disease was the most common CCI comorbidity. There is an obvious need to formally study the burden of mental health disorders in South African SLE patients.

Competence of medical and obstetric registrars in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus in pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: Systemic lupus erythematosus has a predilection for women of childbearing age. Globally a shortage of rheumatologists exists resulting in general physicians and obstetricians treating systemic lupus erythematosus in pregnancy. METHODS: We conducted a survey amongst medical and obstetric registrars in South Africa to assess their subjective and objective competence in managing pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus. RESULTS: The pass rate for the objective section was 70.8% with no statistically significant difference in the pass rate between medical and obstetric registrars. Participants felt unprepared to manage pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus, with a mean overall score of 3.4 out of 7 for the subjective section, based on four Likert scale type questions. CONCLUSION: Trainees are not able to accurately assess their own levels of competence in order to identify their learning needs. Due to the shortage of rheumatologists and lack of obstetric physicians in South Africa, general physicians and obstetricians must be equipped to provide adequate care to pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Managing ANCA-associated vasculitis during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from an online survey.

Management of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) during the COVID-19 pandemic poses unique therapeutic challenges. An online survey was conducted to understand physician's choices for treating AAV during the COVID-19 pandemic. Web-based survey featuring nineteen questions was circulated amongst physicians across various specialties. The responses regarding immunosuppressive therapy for remission induction and maintenance, COVID-19 testing, and preventive measures were recorded. A total of 304 responses were recorded. Most of the respondents were from India (83.9%) and comprised rheumatologists (66%) in practice for ≥ 5 years (71%). Though a majority preferred Rituximab or intravenous cyclophosphamide (CYC) as a remission induction agent, a significant proportion opted for oral CYC and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) also. Only one-third wanted to test for COVID-19 before initiating immunosuppressive therapy in patients with organ/life-threatening manifestations. Rituximab was the most favored maintenance therapy (47%), followed by azathioprine, MMF, and methotrexate. The results of this focused survey of managing AAV patients depict the real-world dilemmas and physicians' choices in this setting.

African League Against Rheumatism (AFLAR) preliminary recommendations on the management of rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: To develop recommendations for the management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: A task force comprising of 25 rheumatologists from the 5 regions of the continent was formed and operated through a hub-and-spoke model with a central working committee (CWC) and 4 subgroups. The subgroups championed separate scopes of the clinical questions and formulated preliminary statements of recommendations which were processed centrally in the CWC. The CWC and each subgroup met by several virtual meetings, and two rounds of voting were conducted on the drafted statements of recommendations. Votes were online-delivered and recommendations were pruned down according to predefined criteria. Each statement was rated between 1 and 9 with 1-3, 4-6 and 7-9 representing disagreement, uncertainty and agreement, respectively. The levels of agreement on the statements were stratified as low, moderate or high according to the spread of votes. A statement was retired if it had a mean vote below 7 or a 'low' level of agreement. RESULTS: A total of 126 initial statements of recommendations were drafted, and these were reduced to 22 after the two rounds of voting. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary statements of recommendations will serve to guide the clinical practice of rheumatology across Africa amidst the changing practices and uncertainties in the current era of COVID-19. It is recognized that further updates to the recommendations will be needed as more evidence emerges. Key Points • AFLAR has developed preliminary recommendations for the management of RMDs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. • COVID-19 is an unprecedented experience which has brought new concerns regarding the use of some disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and these recommendations seek to provide guidelines to the African rheumatologists. • Hydroxychloroquine shortage has become rampart across Africa as the drug is being used as prophylaxis against COVID-19 and this may necessitate a review of treatment plan for some patients with RMDs. • Breastfeeding should continue for as long as possible if a woman is positive for SARS-CoV-2 as there is currently no evidence that the infection can be transmitted through breast milk.

Points to consider in cardiovascular disease risk management among patients with rheumatoid arthritis living in South Africa, an unequal middle income country.

BACKGROUND: It is plausible that optimal cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management differs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from low or middle income compared to high income populations. This study aimed at producing evidence-based points to consider for CVD prevention in South African RA patients. METHODS: Five rheumatologists, one cardiologist and one epidemiologist with experience in CVD risk management in RA patients, as well as two patient representatives, two health professionals and one radiologist, one rheumatology fellow and 11 rheumatologists that treat RA patients regularly contributed. Systematic literature searches were performed and the level of evidence was determined according to standard guidelines. RESULTS: Eighteen points to consider were formulated. These were grouped into 6 categories that comprised overall CVD risk assessment and management (n = 4), and specific interventions aimed at reducing CVD risk including RA control with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, glucocorticoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n = 3), lipid lowering agents (n = 8), antihypertensive drugs (n = 1), low dose aspirin (n = 1) and lifestyle modification (n = 1). Each point to consider differs partially or completely from recommendations previously reported for CVD risk management in RA patients from high income populations. Currently recommended CVD risk calculators do not reliably identify South African black RA patients with very high-risk atherosclerosis as represented by carotid artery plaque presence on ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that optimal cardiovascular risk management likely differs substantially in RA patients from low or middle income compared to high income populations. There is an urgent need for future multicentre longitudinal studies on CVD risk in black African patients with RA.