Objective: A revision of the 2017 EULAR-ACR myositis classification criteria, namely EULAR-ACR funded Myositis Revision of Classification (MyoROC) project, is currently underway involving a large international group of experts. In the first phase of this project, we identified additional items to be tested in the criteria.
Methods: We distributed an electronic survey to International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies (IMACS) members to identify new items.
Background: Digital decision aids (DAs) are increasingly used in health care to support shared decision-making and promote patient engagement. In the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a complex autoimmune disease characterized by diverse symptoms and uncertain prognoses, DAs offer guidance to patients in navigating treatment risks and benefits. Although numerous studies have examined the initial implementation of evidence-based tools, there is limited evidence on the organizational factors that influence their long-term sustainability in clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Clin Epidemiol
August 2025
Context: As the rate of research production accelerates, the ability to efficiently and unambiguously communicate judgements relating to the synthesis, evaluation, and use of scientific information becomes paramount.
Perspective: Scientific information can be viewed as a "layered infrastructure" of data, evidence, knowledge, and use. The GRADE approach serves as a de facto data standard in this infrastructure, reducing ambiguity in claims to knowledge (in the form of judgements of certainty in the evidence when answering research questions) and level of commitment to possible solutions to problems (in the form of strength of recommendations for interventions).
Objective: We assessed whether shared decision-making (SDM), and patient acceptability, feasibility, and overall satisfaction with a computerized patient decision aid (PtDA) for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), differs by PtDA setting, modality, and the viewing experience.
Methods: Patients with SLE were invited to view a self-administered computerized SLE PtDA during regular clinic visits at 15 rheumatology clinics in an implementation trial. Patients completed a survey that included SDM measures including the decision-conflict (DCS), preparation for decision-making (PDM), and CollaboRATE scales; perceived patient acceptability, feasibility, and satisfaction.
Objective: This study aimed to validate an osteoarthritis (OA) phenotyping algorithm within the Million Veteran Program (MVP) using the United States (US) Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Centralized Interactive Phenomics Resource (CIPHER).
Methods: A random sample of 213 veterans was analyzed sing ICD-9-CM/ICD-10-CM codes from a previously published algorithm (PMID:29559693). OA cases required two OA codes at least 30 days apart, while controls were excluded based on codes for conditions more common in OA patients, such as chondrocalcinosis and crystal arthropathies.
Objective: To conduct a two-sample MR study including only men to test for a causal relationship between serum urate (SU) and gout and prostate cancer.
Methods: We used GWAS for SU, gout, and prostate cancer to generate exposure instrumental variables (IV) associated with gout and urate. We used 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with gout but not urate for an IV representing the non-hyperuricemia (inflammatory) compartment of gout and we used four SNPs from loci containing urate transporter genes for an IV representing urate levels.
Objectives: Over 450,000 primary total hip arthroplasties (THA) are performed each year in the US, with osteoarthritis (OA) as the major indication for primary THA. We examined the association of patient, payer, hospital, and geographic factors with extended lengths of stay (eLOS) and increased hospital costs in primary THA.
Methods: We utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify patients with OA who underwent primary THA in 2019.
Objective: To assess whether rural-urban disparities exist in people with SLE for hospitalisation with myocardial infarction (MI).
Methods: We used the 2016-2019 US National Inpatient Sample data that contain all hospitalisation data. In people with a diagnosis of SLE, we assessed the multivariable adjusted ORs (aORs) to examine the association of rural patient residence with MI hospitalisation, while adjusting for demographics, payer, income, hospital characteristics and the Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index.
Semin Arthritis Rheum
August 2025
Aims: To determine the association of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis on the risk of 90-day readmissions and in-hospital mortality during readmission episode within 90 days after index heart failure (HF) hospitalization.
Methods: We used the 2016-2019 U.S.
Purpose: To assess whether sex and comorbidity are associated with the risk of 90-day readmission and associated mortality after nonelective primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) for hip fracture in the United States.
Methods: We used the 2016-2019 US Nationwide Readmissions Database, a nationally representative dataset of readmissions, to examine 90-day readmission outcomes after primary nonelective THA with a primary diagnosis of hip fracture. Sex and medical comorbidity (Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index) were variables of interest.
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes during the implementation of a self-administered patient decision-aid (PtDA) for lupus.
Methods: We provided an effective computerized lupus PtDA in 15 rheumatology outpatient clinics 2019-2024 (including the COVID pandemic). We undertook Organizational Readiness to Implement Change Surveys (ORICs) and Team Learning and Psychological Safety Surveys (TLPSSs) at baseline.
Implement Sci Commun
April 2025
Background: Patient decision aids have the potential to lower decision conflict for patients and to improve patient-physician communication. However, uptake of decision aids has been poor, in part because the time required to incorporate these into clinical practice is not well understood.
Objective: To estimate the time required for a rheumatology clinic to implement a validated decision aid for patients with lupus.
Osteoarthritis is the third most rapidly growing health condition associated with disability, after dementia and diabetes. By 2050, the total number of patients with osteoarthritis is estimated to reach 1 billion worldwide. As no disease-modifying treatments exist for osteoarthritis, a better understanding of disease aetiopathology is urgently needed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To assess whether there is a rural-urban and income-related disparity in the incidence and outcomes of hospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: We used the 2016-2019 US National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data and selected all patients with RA. Rural vs urban residential status was identified using NIS classifications.
Objective: To agree on important domains for the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) core domain set for chronic and/or recurrent manifestations of calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease.
Methods: Patient research partners (PRPs) and other participants (mainly clinicians and researchers) contributed to three rounds of a consensus survey using Delphi methodology. Consensus was defined if ≥70% of both patients and other participants scored the domain as 'critically important domain to include'.
Objective: To identify potential domains for the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) core domain set for studies of an individual flare of acute calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal arthritis.
Methods: Patient research partners (PRPs) and other participants (mainly clinicians and researchers) completed three rounds of survey using Delphi methodology. Consensus was defined as ≥ 70 % of both PRP and other participants groups rated the domain as a 'critically important domain to include'.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether rural vs urban patient residence is associated with the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) hospitalization and other outcomes in people with gout.
Methods: We used the 2016-2019 U.S.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the association between patient sex and discharge disposition as well as inpatient mortality following elective primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) for osteoarthritis (OA) in the United States.
Methods: This study used the 2016-2019 US National Inpatient Sample, a nationally representative dataset, to conduct a cross-sectional study. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the association of sex with discharge disposition and in-hospital mortality after elective primary THA for OA, adjusting for demographics, comorbidity, social determinants of health (income, insurance payer), hospital characteristics (bed size, location/teaching status, region, control), and postprocedural complications (for mortality and discharge disposition).
Objective: This study investigates the barriers to and facilitators of sustaining a decision aid (DA) tool for patients with SLE in routine rheumatology outpatient care across the USA. The DA was initially developed for assisting patients with SLE in making informed medication choices by providing personalized information on their treatment process.
Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with clinicians, administrators, and information technology (IT) professionals from 15 geographically diverse rheumatology clinics that participated in a large-scale DA implementation trial.
Background/objective: Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis, and its morbidity can be substantially reduced through urate-lowering therapy. However, adherence to allopurinol-the most common urate-lowering therapy-is notoriously poor. Prior studies have not fully elucidated factors associated with allopurinol adherence, particularly psychosocial factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Adults with arthritis experience poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL), though research often focuses on single HRQOL outcomes or summary scores. We aimed to identify HRQOL profiles in adults with different arthritis types and determine risk and protective factors.
Methods: Data including PROMIS-29 Profile v2.
ACR Open Rheumatol
January 2025
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the burden of gout flares and examine associated patient characteristics and outcomes in a sample of US adults.
Methods: Data were collected via an online survey of US adults ≥18 years using a random stratified sampling framework. Participants with gout completed questions about treatments, serum urate (SU) levels, severity, satisfaction with control, and gout flares.
Introduction: We evaluated the association of patient sex with in-patient mortality and discharge disposition after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) for hip fracture in the U.S.
Methods: Using the 2016-2019 U.