Most Visits of Most Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis to Most Rheumatologists Do Not Include a Formal Quantitative Joint Count

Overview

Journal Ann Rheum Dis

Specialty Rheumatology

Date 2005 Nov 18

PMID 16291813

Citations 18

Authors

T Pincus

O G Segurado

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To ask rheumatologists about the likelihood of performing a formal joint count at each visit of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in standard clinical care.

Method: Direct query of rheumatologists at an international meeting of about 600 rheumatologists from 17 European countries.

Results: Overall, 14% of rheumatologists reported performing a formal joint count at each visit of each patient, and 44% of rheumatologists reported performing a formal joint count at more than 50% of visits of patients with RA. Therefore, 56% of rheumatologists reported performing a joint count at fewer than 50% of visits, including 45% at fewer than 25% of visits. One in eight rheumatologists (13%) reported never performing a formal joint count.

Conclusion: Although the joint count remains the most specific measure for RA, most visits of most patients with RA to most rheumatologists do not include a formal quantitative joint count.

Citing Articles

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Chua R, Mecchella J, Zbehlik A Int J Rheumatol. 2015; 2015:834070.

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