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Xiang L, Fong W, Low AHL, Leung YY, Gandhi M, Xin X, Uy EJB, Hamilton L, Thumboo J. Early identification of axial spondyloarthritis in a multi-ethnic Asian population. Clin Rheumatol 2021; 41:1095-1103. [PMID: 34625882 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-021-05951-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES To address the diagnostic delay in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), we have cross-culturally adapted the Hamilton axSpA questionnaire, a self-administered screening questionnaire, in the Singapore population. In this study, we compared the performance of various scoring methods for this questionnaire in detecting axSpA. METHOD The questionnaire was self-administered by eligible subjects. Scoring methods included method A, the original questionnaire scoring, and methods B-E, scoring developed based on the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria for inflammatory back pain (IBP) and the referral, classification and both referral and classification of axSpA, respectively. The reference standard was diagnosis by a rheumatologist. Since the ASAS criteria-based scoring methods were mainly based on clinical axSpA features, self-report and rheumatologist-assessment of clinical axSpA features were also compared in subjects with axSpA. RESULTS Of 1418 subjects (age: 54 ± 14 years, female: 73%) recruited, 46 were diagnosed with axSpA by a rheumatologist. Sensitivities of methods A-E were 35%, 61%, 63%, 48% and 83%, respectively. Self-report of clinical axSpA features exceeded rheumatologist-assessment for arthritis (83 vs 26%), good response to NSAIDs (37 vs 30%), enthesitis (35 vs 30%), dactylitis (20 vs 2%) and family history for axSpA (13 vs 4%). The reverse was true for IBP (41 vs 63%) and uveitis (4 vs 15%). CONCLUSIONS A self-administered questionnaire using the ASAS referral and classification criteria-based scoring yielded relatively high sensitivity in detecting axSpA in subjects newly referred to rheumatology clinics. This supports its evaluation as a screening and referral tool in the general population in future studies. Key Points • A self-administered questionnaire could be used as a screening and referral tool. • ASAS referral and classification criteria-based scoring yielded relatively high sensitivity. • Inaccurate perception of clinical axSpA features was observed in axSpA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Xiang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Academia Building, Level 4, 20 College Road, Singapore, 169856, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Warren Fong
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Academia Building, Level 4, 20 College Road, Singapore, 169856, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea Hsiu Ling Low
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Academia Building, Level 4, 20 College Road, Singapore, 169856, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ying Ying Leung
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Academia Building, Level 4, 20 College Road, Singapore, 169856, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mihir Gandhi
- Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Lien Centre for Palliative Care, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Biostatistics, Singapore Clinical Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,The Center for Child Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Xiaohui Xin
- Academic Clinical Program for Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Elenore Judy B Uy
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Academia Building, Level 4, 20 College Road, Singapore, 169856, Singapore
| | - Louise Hamilton
- Department of Rheumatology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK
| | - Julian Thumboo
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Academia Building, Level 4, 20 College Road, Singapore, 169856, Singapore. .,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. .,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
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Xiang L, Low AHL, Leung YY, Fong W, Gandhi M, Yoon S, Lau TC, Koh DR, Thumboo J. Interval between symptom onset and diagnosis among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases in a multi-ethnic Asian population. Int J Rheum Dis 2021; 24:1061-1070. [PMID: 34232556 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185x.14165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM The interval between symptom onset and diagnosis (pre-diagnosis interval) can at times be longer than is ideal in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). In this study, we aimed to characterize this interval and to identify its associated factors. METHOD We characterized pre-diagnosis interval into 4 intervals: Interval #1 between symptom onset and first visit to healthcare professionals; Interval #2 between first visit to healthcare professionals and rheumatology referral; Interval #3 between rheumatology referral and first rheumatology assessment; and Interval #4 between first rheumatology assessment and diagnosis. Median regression models were used to identify factors associated with longer pre-diagnosis interval and Interval #1. RESULTS Among 259 patients (median age = 52.0 [41.6-61.9] years, 71% female, rheumatoid arthritis [n = 75], axial spondyloarthritis [axSpA] [n = 40] and psoriatic arthritis [n = 35]), median pre-diagnosis interval was 11.5 (4.7-36.0) months. Interval #1 (median = 4.9 months) was significantly longer than Intervals #2-#4 (median = 0.3, 1.5, and 0.0 months, respectively). Patients with axSpA had significantly longer pre-diagnosis interval (median = 38.7 months) and Interval #1 (median = 26.6 months) than patients with the other ARDs. Median regression suggested that patients referred from specialty care had significantly longer pre-diagnosis interval (median difference = 7.7 months) and Interval #1 (median difference = 6.4 months) compared to those referred from primary care. CONCLUSION A long pre-diagnosis interval was observed among patients with ARDs (especially axSpA), due largely to a long interval between symptom onset and the first visit to healthcare professionals. This highlights the importance of interventions targeting patients prior to their first visit to healthcare professionals in reducing pre-diagnosis interval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Xiang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea Hsiu Ling Low
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Ying Ying Leung
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Warren Fong
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Mihir Gandhi
- Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Biostatistics, Singapore Clinical Research Institute.,Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Sungwon Yoon
- Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Tang Ching Lau
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore
| | - Dow Rhoon Koh
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore
| | - Julian Thumboo
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
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