Imke Redeker1,2, Johanna Callhoff2, Falk Hoffmann3, Hildrun Haibel1, Joachim Sieper1, Angela Zink2,4, Denis Poddubnyy1,2. 1. Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. 2. Epidemiology Unit, German Rheumatism Research Centre, Berlin. 3. Department of Health Services Research, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg. 4. Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the current diagnostic delay in axial SpA (axSpA) and to analyse factors associated with it. METHODS: A stratified sample of subjects with a diagnosis of axSpA (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision code M45) was drawn from health insurance data in Germany and was questioned on disease-related, lifestyle and socio-economic characteristics. The diagnostic delay was calculated as the time from back pain onset until a diagnosis of axSpA. A multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to explore factors associated with the diagnostic delay. RESULTS: Among 1677 patients with axSpA included in the analysis, the mean diagnostic delay was 5.7 years (median 2.3). Of those, 407 patients were diagnosed in 1996-2005 and 484 patients in 2006-2015. The mean diagnostic delay was not substantially different in both periods: 6.3 years (median 2.6) and 7.4 (2.7), respectively. Multivariable linear regression revealed that female sex [β = 1.85 (95% CI 1.06, 2.65)], negative HLA-B27 status [β = 3.61 (95% CI 2.07, 5.14)], presence of psoriasis [β = 1.40 (95% CI 0.08, 2.73)] and younger age at symptom onset [β = 1.91 (95% CI 1.53, 2.29)] were factors associated with a longer diagnostic delay. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic delay in axSpA is still unacceptably long. Patients who are female, young at symptom onset, HLA-B27 negative or have psoriasis have a longer diagnostic delay. Specific referral strategies might be necessary in order to decrease the diagnostic delay in patients presenting with these characteristics.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the current diagnostic delay in axial SpA (axSpA) and to analyse factors associated with it. METHODS: A stratified sample of subjects with a diagnosis of axSpA (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision code M45) was drawn from health insurance data in Germany and was questioned on disease-related, lifestyle and socio-economic characteristics. The diagnostic delay was calculated as the time from back pain onset until a diagnosis of axSpA. A multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to explore factors associated with the diagnostic delay. RESULTS: Among 1677 patients with axSpA included in the analysis, the mean diagnostic delay was 5.7 years (median 2.3). Of those, 407 patients were diagnosed in 1996-2005 and 484 patients in 2006-2015. The mean diagnostic delay was not substantially different in both periods: 6.3 years (median 2.6) and 7.4 (2.7), respectively. Multivariable linear regression revealed that female sex [β = 1.85 (95% CI 1.06, 2.65)], negative HLA-B27 status [β = 3.61 (95% CI 2.07, 5.14)], presence of psoriasis [β = 1.40 (95% CI 0.08, 2.73)] and younger age at symptom onset [β = 1.91 (95% CI 1.53, 2.29)] were factors associated with a longer diagnostic delay. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic delay in axSpA is still unacceptably long. Patients who are female, young at symptom onset, HLA-B27 negative or have psoriasis have a longer diagnostic delay. Specific referral strategies might be necessary in order to decrease the diagnostic delay in patients presenting with these characteristics.
Authors: Robert Landewé; Désirée van der Heijde; Maxime Dougados; Xenofon Baraliakos; Filip Van den Bosch; Karl Gaffney; Lars Bauer; Bengt Hoepken; Natasha de Peyrecave; Karen Thomas; Lianne S Gensler Journal: Rheumatol Ther Date: 2020-06-11