J Callhoff1, K Albrecht2, F Hoffmann3, D Poddubnyy4, K-P Günther5, A Zink2. 1. Programme Area Epidemiology, German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. johanna.callhoff@drfz.de. 2. Programme Area Epidemiology, German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. 3. Department for Health Services Research, , Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany. 4. Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 5. UniversitätsCentrum für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The objective of the research consortium PROCLAIR was to gain population level knowledge on the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondylarthritis (axSpA) and osteoarthritis (OA) in Germany. AIMS: A main question of the consortium was whether it is possible to identify groups of people who were exposed to a particular risk of undersupply or oversupply of treatment. In addition, the study investigated the validity of claims data for these diseases as a basis for further studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys were carried out among insurees of the BARMER statutory health insurance fund whose claims data included RA, axSpA and OA diagnoses. The questionnaire data were linked with the claims data of the insured persons if they agreed. RESULTS: In all three diseases risk groups for care deficits could be identified. Persons with RA who are not treated by a specialist have less access to drug treatment. Physical therapy is prescribed for all three diagnoses at a low level, even for people undergoing joint replacement surgery. A connection between depressive symptoms and disease activity or function in axSpA was shown. In addition to the results relevant to care, the PROCLAIR network has also made contributions to critically assess the quality of health insurance data. DISCUSSION: The combination of billing data with survey data enables a comprehensive description of the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Particularly relevant factors are the specialization of the physician, sociodemographic parameters of the patients and the region of residence. In particular, access to treatment cannot be investigated in randomized clinical trials.
BACKGROUND: The objective of the research consortium PROCLAIR was to gain population level knowledge on the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondylarthritis (axSpA) and osteoarthritis (OA) in Germany. AIMS: A main question of the consortium was whether it is possible to identify groups of people who were exposed to a particular risk of undersupply or oversupply of treatment. In addition, the study investigated the validity of claims data for these diseases as a basis for further studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys were carried out among insurees of the BARMER statutory health insurance fund whose claims data included RA, axSpA and OA diagnoses. The questionnaire data were linked with the claims data of the insured persons if they agreed. RESULTS: In all three diseases risk groups for care deficits could be identified. Persons with RA who are not treated by a specialist have less access to drug treatment. Physical therapy is prescribed for all three diagnoses at a low level, even for people undergoing joint replacement surgery. A connection between depressive symptoms and disease activity or function in axSpA was shown. In addition to the results relevant to care, the PROCLAIR network has also made contributions to critically assess the quality of health insurance data. DISCUSSION: The combination of billing data with survey data enables a comprehensive description of the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Particularly relevant factors are the specialization of the physician, sociodemographic parameters of the patients and the region of residence. In particular, access to treatment cannot be investigated in randomized clinical trials.
Authors: Johanna Callhoff; Hannes Jacobs; Katinka Albrecht; Joachim Saam; Angela Zink; Falk Hoffmann Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-12-09 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Jason A Sharpe; Brook I Martin; Julie M Fritz; Michael G Newman; John Magel; Megan E Vanneman; Anne Thackeray Journal: Fam Pract Date: 2021-06-17 Impact factor: 2.267