Clinical features of patients with hands arthralgia referred from primary care physicians to rheumatologists: A cohort study.

PURPOSE: Early referral of patients with suspicious of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has an impact on prognosis. Our study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with hands arthralgia who were referred from primary care physicians (PCP) to the rheumatologist. METHODS: A descriptive, observational, prospective cohort study was performed. We included patients who visited a PCP for the first time for hands arthralgia. Demographics and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology criteria for arthralgia suspicious for progression to RA plus seven complementary questions, the time to referral, the pressure needed to provoke pain with an automatic squeeze test machine in the metacarpophalangeal joints of both hands, and the diagnoses established at the last review of medical charts from patients on follow-up were documented. The primary outcome was the referral to a rheumatologist. RESULTS: A total of 109 patients were included. The mean age was 49.9 years, 81.6% were women. 30.3% were referred to the rheumatologist. The time to referral was a median of 38 days. The main clinical characteristics associated with referral to the rheumatologist were the "most severe symptoms are present after midnight" (OR=6.29) and the "difficulty with making a fist" (OR=3.67). An isolated "positive squeeze test of metacarpophalangeal joints" was not associated with a referral to the rheumatologist. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with hands arthralgia who attended PCP, those with most severe symptoms after midnight and difficulty making a fist were more likely to be referred to the rheumatology clinic. Isolated positive squeeze tests are not a parameter for referral, it should only be performed if arthralgia is clinically suspected.

Early referral and control of disease's flares prevent Orthopedic and Hand Surgery Indication (OHSI) in a dynamic cohort of Hispanic early rheumatoid arthritis patients.

BACKGROUND: Reconstructive joint surgery is an indicator of poor prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objectives of this study were to describe the incidence rate of orthopedic and hand surgery indication (OHSI) in an ongoing cohort of Hispanic early RA patients treated according to a T2T strategy and to investigate predictors. METHODS: Through February 2018, the cohort comprised 185 patients recruited from 2004 onwards, with variable follow-up, and rheumatic assessments at fixed intervals that included prospective determination of OHSI. Charts were reviewed by a single data abstractor. OHSI incidence rate was calculated. A case-control study nested within a cohort investigated the predictors; cases (OHSI patients) were paired with controls (1:4) according to age, sex and autoantibodies. A logistic regression model included baseline and cumulative (up to OHSI or equivalent) variables related to disease activity, treatment and to persistence with therapy. The IRB approved the study. RESULTS: Patients from the cohort were predominantly middle-aged (mean ± SD age: 38.5 ± 12.9 years) females (87.6%) with 5.4 ± 2.6 months of disease duration. The cohort contributed to 1538 patient-years of follow-up. Twelve patients received incidental OHSI at a follow-up of 85 ± 44.5 months. The OHSI incident global rate was 8/1000 patient-years. Longer symptom duration at cohort referral (OR: 1.313, 95%CI: 1.02-1.68, p = 0.032) and a higher number of flares/patient (OR: 1.608, 95%CI: 1.05-1.61, p = 0.015) predicted OHSI. OHSI patients had more severe flares than their counterparts, and the opposite figure was true for mild flares. CONCLUSION: Early referral for appropriate management and flare control may prevent OHSI in Hispanic recent-onset RA patients.

Factores epidemiológicos asociados a la referencia temprana al nefrólogo para hemodiálisis crónica en pacientes de un Hospital Público de Perú / Epidemiological factors associated with early referral to a nephrologist to start chronic hemodialysis in patients at a Public Hospital in Peru

OBJETIVO: El objetivo de esta investigación fue establecer la frecuencia de referencia temprana al nefrólogo para el inicio de hemodiálisis (HD) y sus factores epidemiológicos asociados en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) de un hospital público de Perú. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, analítico, de diseño transversal. El estudio fue llevado a cabo en pacientes que inician HD de un hospital público de Perú. La variable principal fue referencia temprana, definida como todo paciente que recibió indicación de inicio de HD después de 180 días de la primera atención en el servicio de nefrología. Se recolectaron variables epidemiológicas y de laboratorio. Se utilizó modelos lineales generalizados (MLG) crudo y ajustado; y como medida de asociación se calculó la razón de proporciones (PR) con intervalo de confianza (IC) al 95%. RESULTADOS: Se evaluaron 148 pacientes, se encontró referencia temprana en 17% de la población. En el MLG ajustado, los mayores de 60 años tuvieron mayor frecuencia de referencia temprana al nefrólogo PR= 2,17; IC 95% (1.09-4.32); p=0,03. Se encontró menor frecuencia de referencia temprana entre los participantes con anemia severa, PR=0,15; IC 95% (0,02-1,11); p=0,06. CONCLUSIONES: La frecuencia de referencia temprana es baja y debería considerarse como problema de salud pública; se recomienda mejorar los procesos de referencia de las redes de nuestra institución

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to establish the frequency of early referral to the nephrologist for the initiation of hemodialysis (HD) and its associated epidemiological factors in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a public hospital in Peru. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study in patients who started HD in a public hospital in Peru. Our main variable was early referral, defined as patients who received an indication of onset of HD after 180 days of the first appointment in the nephrology service. We collected epidemiological and laboratory variables. We used crude and adjusted generalized linear models (GLM) and we calculated the proportion ratio (PR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) as a measure of association. RESULTS: We evaluated 148 patients; we found early referral in 17% of the population. In the adjusted GLM, participants older than 60 years had a higher proportion of early referral to the nephrologist, PR = 2.17; 95% CI (1.09-4.32); p = 0.03. We showed a lower frequency of early referral among participants with severe anemia, PR = 0.15; 95% CI (0.02-1.11); p = 0.06. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of early referral is low and it should be considered a public health problem. We recommend improving the process of referral in our health care network

Estrategia para la derivación oportuna: experiencia en un centro de referencia en reumatología / Strategy for temely referral: experience in a reference center in rheumatology

Introducción: En los últimos años se ha reconocido la importancia del diagnóstico precoz de la artritis reumatoidea y las espondiloartritis. Aún existen barreras que impiden la derivación precoz de estos pacientes. Objetivo: Evaluar si existe un aumento significativo en el número de derivaciones al Servicio de Reumatología luego de implementar una estrategia de concientización a otros especialistas. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional, retrospectivo. Resultados: Durante el primer período, el servicio realizó un total de 1027 consultas, de las cuales 130 fueron derivaciones. Las consultas efectuadas luego de la implementación del plan de derivación fueron 1199 con 202 derivaciones (17% IC 95 14,7-19); la diferencia entre ambos períodos fue estadísticamente significativa (p 0,003). Conclusión: La implementación de estrategias de derivación fue valiosa, puesto que encontramos un incremento en el número de derivaciones realizadas. Consideramos que estas intervenciones deben perdurar en el tiempo para mejorar el diagnóstico precoz.

Introduction: In recent years, the importance of early diagnosisof rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis has been recognized. However, there are still barriers that obstruct the early referral ofthese patients. Objective: To evaluate whether there is a significant increase in thenumber of referrals to the department of Rheumatology after implementinga strategy of awareness to other specialists. Material and methods: Observational and retrospective study. Results: During the first period, the service conducted a total of1027 consultations, of which 130 were referrals. Consultations made after the implementation of the derivation strategy were 1199 of which 202 were referrals (17% CI 95 14.7-19); the difference between the two periods was statistically significant (p 0.003). Conclusion: The implementation of this strategy was valuable, since we found an increase in the number of referrals made. Weconsider that these interventions should last over time to improveearly diagnosis.