Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41913222›Full record

ArticleOrphanet journal of rare diseases2026

Coding systems and monitoring practices across the ERN ReCONNET: insights from a comprehensive survey and unmet needs.

Matilde Bandeira, Diana Marinello, Sofia C Barreira, Jutta G Richter, J K de Vries-Bouwstra, Ingrid E Lundberg, Cristina Pamfil, Alain Cornet, Marta Mosca, Ana Rath and 20 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Orphanet journal of rare diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

30 authors.

Matilde Bandeira *Rheumatology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria, Centro Académico Médico de Lisboa (CAML), Lisbon, Portugal.
Diana Marinello *Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Sofia C Barreira *Rheumatology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria, Centro Académico Médico de Lisboa (CAML), Lisbon, Portugal.
Jutta G RichterDivision of Rheumatology and Systemic Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
J K de Vries-BouwstraDepartment of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands.
Ingrid E LundbergDepartment of Gastroenterology, Dermatology and Rheumatology, Theme Inflammation and Aging, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
Cristina PamfilDepartment of Rheumatology, Emergency County Clinical Hospital Cluj, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Alain CornetLupus Europe, Brussels, Belgium.
Marta MoscaRheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Ana Rath, Inserm, US14-Orphanet, Paris, France.
Massimo TriggianiDivision of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
Gabriele SimoniniRheumatology Unit, ERN-ReCONNET Centre, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy.
Alessandro FerrarisLaboratory of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University and San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Wiktoria SoleckaDepartment of Connective Tissue Diseases, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Warsaw, Poland.
Marco LanzillottaUniversità Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
Francesca RegolaRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit - ERN ReCONNET Centre, ASST SpedaliCivili, Brescia, Italy.
Jiří VencovskýInstitute of Rheumatology, Prague, Czech Republic.
Vincent SobanskiService de Médecine Interne, U1286 - INFINITE-Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation CHU Lille, University Lille, Inserm, Lille, France.
Camelia BucșaRomanian Association of Relapsing Polychondritis Patients, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Michel Tsang-A-SjoeDepartment of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jakub ZávadaInstitute of Rheumatology, Prague, Czech Republic.
Nicoletta Del PapaScleroderma Clinic, UOC Clinica Reumatologica, ASST Pini-CTO, Milano, Italy.
Zana BrkicDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Nicolas HunzelmannDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Isabell HaaseDivision of Rheumatology and Systemic Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Charissa FrankFlemish Association for Hereditary Connective Tissue Disorders, Koersel, Belgium.
Vanessa SmithDepartment of Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Rosaria TalaricoRheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. sara.talarico76@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4268-9611
João Eurico FonsecaRheumatology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria, Centro Académico Médico de Lisboa (CAML), Lisbon, Portugal.
Matthias SchneiderDivision of Rheumatology and Systemic Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRare and complex connective tissue diseases (rCTDs) pose significant challenges for healthcare systems due to the lack of standardized approaches for recording and monitoring patient data. The European Reference Network on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ERN ReCONNET) aims to harmonize patient data recording practices across member centres. This study evaluates current practices and unmet needs related to coding systems and monitoring.

methodsA cross-sectional study design was employed, involving three phases. The first phase, mapped the unmet needs for coding systems and monitoring practices across ERN ReCONNET centres. The second phaseprioritized these unmet needs, and the third phase aimed at defining action points to address those unmet needs by means of a Level of Agreement. We conducted a web‑based survey among ERN ReCONNET centres to evaluate current practices(response rate 75.0% [48/64] in Phase 1); and an additional inquiry in Phase 2 (58 responders) to identify the unmet needs of the Network. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

resultsThe initial survey included responses from 48 centres. About 42% of the centres used some form of paper-based records, and only 25% used dedicated biobank software. ICD-10 was predominantly applied for coding diagnoses, sub-diagnoses, and comorbidities, while ORPHAcodes were also employed, though less frequently. Clinicians were primarily responsible for data collection and submission, leading to significant administrative burden. The second survey, with 58 respondents, identified the lack of adoption of ORPHAcodesand the heterogeneity in coding systems as top unmet needs. Additionally, the survey highlighted the significant burden on clinicians and the need for improved information technology(IT) infrastructure to facilitate data extraction for ERN yearly monitoring. Lastly, 7 action points were identified in order to plan tangible actions to address the unmet needs of the rCTDs community.

conclusionThis study highlights the heterogeneity in data documentation practices, coding system usage, and monitoring activities across ERN ReCONNET centres. The findings underscore the need for standardization and optimization of data management processes. Addressing these challenges through digitalization and standardized coding practices is essential for realizing a truly integrated and collaborative network for rare connective tissue diseases across Europe.

Indexed as

Clinical CodingConnective Tissue DiseasesRare DiseasesCross-Sectional StudiesHumansMusculoskeletal DiseasesSurveys and QuestionnairesCoding systemsERN ReCONNETEuropean Reference NetworkRare diseasesrCTDsRegistries

Identifiers

PMID41913222
PMCPMC13154656

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.