Observational studyRheumatology international2019
Early arthritis clinic is effective for rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritides.
Observational study in Rheumatology international, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Do infections play a role in the development of chronic inflammatory arthritis? A 14-year follow-up study of patients with early arthritis.BMC rheumatology · 2025Article
- Enhancing current guidance for psoriatic arthritis and its comorbidities: recommendations from an expert consensus panel.Rheumatology (Oxford, England) · 2025Article
- Similar rates of new psoriatic arthritis diagnoses in a dedicated psoriatic disease triage clinic, regardless of referral route.Rheumatology advances in practice · 2025Article
- Early psoriatic arthritis: when is the right time to start advanced therapy?Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease · 2024Review
- Health disparities in rheumatoid arthritis.Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease · 2022Review
- [Psoriatic arthritis: important aspects for the dermatological practice].Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete · 2021Review
- Increased disease activity in early arthritis patients with anti-carbamylated protein antibodies.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Risk Factors for Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients With Undifferentiated Arthritis and Inflammatory Arthralgia.Frontiers in medicine · 2021Review
- The Differential Effect of Antibodies on Radiographic Progression in Rheumatoid Arthritis.Mediterranean journal of rheumatology · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionEarly arthritis clinics (EACs) have been well established since 1980s. Most of the data for their effectiveness comes from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management and is largely limited to process outcomes. There is little evidence that such clinics improve clinical outcomes particularly for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We examined whether EACs provide better outcomes irrespective of final arthritis diagnosis.
methodsA 52-week prospective observational study of all inflammatory arthritis patients presenting to early arthritis service at our secondary care hospital in 2016 was undertaken. A protocolised approach to the early initiation of therapy (within 3 weeks) and 6-weekly review of treatment outcomes was embedded irrespective of the arthritis diagnosis. Statistical analysis was undertaken using Mann-Whitney U test for disease activity scores to ascertain the significance of outcomes.
resultsOf 1884 patients referred, 482 (25.5%) were triaged into EACs based on set criteria. 159 (64.3%) had RA, 55 (22%) with PsA and 33 had other inflammatory arthritides. Mean DAS28 for RA at first visit was 4.65 (0.6-8.0). Treating to target achieved DAS28 remission for 84 (53.5%) and low disease activity (LDA) for a further 44 (34%). Median time to achieve remission or LDA was 20 weeks (0-52 weeks). Mean tender (TJ) and swollen joint (SJ) counts for PsA at first visit were 8.2 (1-35) and 3.5 (0-14), respectively [n = 55]. The patient (PtGA) and physician (PhGA) global assessments mean were 3.0 and 2.9 (1-5). Target [TJ and SJ ≤ 2] was achieved for 38 patients (69%) and good PsARC response for a further four (7%). Median time to achieve the target or good response was 22 weeks (0-48 weeks). Final TJ and SJ mean was significantly better at 1.2 (0-4) and 0.3 (0-2) [p < 0.0001] with similar improvement in PtGA [mean 1.8 (1-4)] and PhGA [mean 1.6 (1-3)].
conclusionDedicated EACs help achieve good clinical outcomes in majority of patients with RA and PsA. Nearly 80% of our cohort attained the target or good disease response in less than 6 months. This was despite a significant delay in patients presenting to their GPs and moderately high disease activity.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.