Toward Telemonitoring in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: Protocol for a Mixed Attention Model Study

Background: Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are chronic diseases that may alternate between asymptomatic periods and flares. These conditions require complex treatments and close monitoring by rheumatologists to mitigate their effects and improve the patient's quality of life. Often, delays in outpatient consultations or the patient's difficulties in keeping appointments make such close follow-up challenging. For this reason, it is very important to have open communication between patients and health professionals. In this context, implementing telemonitoring in the field of rheumatology has great potential, as it can facilitate the close monitoring of patients with RMDs. The use of these tools helps patients self -manage certain aspects of their disease. This could result in fewer visits to emergency departments and consultations, as well as enable better therapeutic compliance and identification of issues that would otherwise go unnoticed. Objective: The main objective of this study is to evaluate the implementation of a hybrid care model called the mixed attention model (MAM) in clinical practice and determine whether its implementation improves clinical outcomes compared to conventional follow-up. Methods: This is a multicenter prospective observational study involving 360 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondylarthritis (SpA) from 5 Spanish hospitals. The patients will be followed up by the MAM protocol, which is a care model that incorporates a digital tool consisting of a mobile app that patients can use at home and professionals can review asynchronously to detect incidents and follow patients' clinical evolution between face-to-face visits. Another group of patients, whose follow-up will be conducted in accordance with a traditional face-to-face care model, will be assessed as the control group. Sociodemographic characteristics, treatments, laboratory parameters, assessment of tender and swollen joints, visual analog scale for pain, and electronic patient -reported outcome (ePRO) reports will be collected for all participants. In the MAM group, these items will be self -assessed via both the mobile app and during face-to-face visits with the rheumatologist, who will do the same for patients included in the traditional care model. The patients will be able to report any incidence related to their disease or treatment through the mobile app. Results: Participant recruitment began in March 2024 and will continue until December 2024. The follow-up period will be extended by 12 months for all patients. Data collection and analysis are scheduled for completion in December 2025. Conclusions: This paper aims to provide a detailed description of the development and implementation of a digital solution, specifically an MAM. The goal is to achieve significant economic and psychosocial impact within our health care system by enhancing control over RMD

Efficacy, Safety and Cost-Effectiveness of Methotrexate, Adalimumab or Their Combination in Non-infectious Non-anterior Uveitis: A Protocol for a Multicentre, Randomised, Parallel Three Arms, Active-Controlled, Phase III Open Label With Blinded Outcome Assessment Study

[Abstract] Introduction: Non-infectious uveitis include a heterogeneous group of sight-threatening and incapacitating conditions. Their correct management sometimes requires the use of immunosuppressive drugs (ISDs), prescribed in monotherapy or in combination. Several observational studies showed that the use of ISDs in combination could be more effective than and as safe as their use in monotherapy. However, a direct comparison between these two treatment strategies has not been carried out yet. Methods and analysis: The Combination THerapy with mEthotrexate and adalImumAb for uveitis (CoTHEIA) study is a phase III, multicentre, prospective, randomised, single-blinded with masked outcome assessment, parallel three arms with 1:1:1 allocation, active-controlled, superiority study design, comparing the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of methotrexate, adalimumab or their combination in non-infectious non-anterior uveitis. We aim to recruit 192 subjects. The duration of the treatment and follow-up will last up to 52 weeks, plus 70 days follow-up with no treatment. The complete and maintained resolution of the ocular inflammation will be assessed by masked evaluators (primary outcome). In addition to other secondary measurements of efficacy (quality of life, visual acuity and costs) and safety, we will identify subjects’ subgroups with different treatment responses by developing prediction models based on machine learning techniques using genetic and proteomic biomarkers. Ethics and dissemination: The protocol, annexes and informed consent forms were approved by the Reference Clinical Research Ethic Committee at the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (Madrid, Spain) and the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products. We will elaborate a dissemination plan including production of materials adapted to several formats to communicate the clinical trial progress and findings to a broad group of stakeholders. The promoter will be the only access to the participant-level data, although it can be shared within the legal situation. Trial registration number: 2020-000130-18; NCT04798755.This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, grant number [ICI19/00020]. Sponsor: Fundación para la Investigacion Biomédica del Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Executive Committee: Administrative and executive arm of the clinical trial, providing overall oversight for the study and making decisions on day-to-day operational issues (Study Coordinator (Luis Rodriguez-Rodriguez), a representative from the Spanish Clinical Trial Network (Amanda López Picado), and 5 Site Directors (these seats will be rotatory, with changes every 6 months months)); Data Coordinating and Analysis Committee: Supervising data collection,management and quality control, designing the statistical analysis plan, performing unmasked data analysis and preparing interim and final reports for the Data Security Monitoring Board and the Executy Committee (Study Coordinator (Luis Rodriguez-Rodriguez), a representative from the Spanish Clinical Trial Network (Amanda López Picado) and Ester Carreño); Biobank and Biomarker Identification Committee (Maintaining an up-to-date manual of operations for blood extraction, processing and storage, and monitoring procedures adherence, supervising biological sample collection, sample shipment coordination, coordinating the phamacogenetic and proteomic analysis (Study Coordinator (Luis Rodriguez-Rodriguez), a representative from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III Biobank Platform (Elena Molino), a representative the Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña, a representative from, the Data Coordinating and Analysis Committee); Data Security Monitoring Committee (PierGiogio Neri, Andrew Dick, Loreto Carmona

Spondylarthropathies (including psoriatic arthritis): 244. Validity of Colour Doppler and Spectral Doppler Ultrasound of Sacroilicac Joints Againts Physical Examination as Gold Standard

Background: Sacroiliac joints (SJ) involvement is a distinctive and charasteristic feature of Spondyloarthritis (SpA) and x-ray is the test routinely used to make a diagnosis. However, x-ray reveals late structural damage but cannot detect active inflammation. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of Doppler ultrasound in SJ. Methods: Prospective blinded and controlled study of SJ, in which three populations were compared. We studied 106 consecutive cases, who were divided into three groups: a) 53 patients diagnosed with SpA who had inflammatory lumbar and gluteal pain assessed by a rheumatologist; b) 26 patients diagnosed with SpA who didn't have SJ tenderness and had normal physical examination; c) control group of 27 subjects (healthy subjetcs or with mechanical lumbar pain). All patients included that were diagnosed with SpA met almost the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) classification criteria. Physical examination of the SJ included: sacral sulcus tenderness, iliac gapping, iliac compression, midline sacral thrust test, Gaenslen's test, and Patrick s test were used as gold standard. Both SJ were examined with Doppler ultrasound (General Electric Logiq 9, Wauwatosa WI, USA) fitted with a 9-14 Mhz lineal probe. The ultrasonographer was blinded to clinical data. Doppler in SJ was assessed as positive when both Doppler colour and resistance index (RI) < 0.75 within the SJ area were present. Statistical analysis was performed estimating sensitivity and specificity against gold standard. The Kappa correlation coefficient was used for reliability study. Results: 106 cases (53 female, 55 male; mean age 36 10 years) were studied. There were no statistical differences between groups related to age or sex. Physical examination of SJ was positive in 38 patients (59 sacroiliac joints). US detected Doppler signal within SJ in 37 patients (58 SJ): 33 of them were symptomatic SpA (52 SJ), one of them were asymptomatic SpA (1 SJ) and one was a healthy control (1 SJ). The accuracy of US when compared to clinical data as gold standard at subject level in the overall group was: sensitivity of 68.6% and specificity of 85.7%, positive predictive value of 70.5% and negative predictive value of 84.5%. A positive likelihood ratio of 4.8, a negative likelihood ratio of 0.36 and a kappa coefficient of 0.55 were achieved. Conclusions: Doppler US of SJ seems to be a valid method to detect active SJ inflammation. Disclosure statement: The authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Prevalencia de comorbilidades en artritis reumatoide y evaluación de su manejo en la clínica diaria: cohorte española del estudio COMORA

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of comorbidities in patients with RA in Spain and discuss their management and implications using data from the Spanish cohort of the multinational study on COMOrbidities in Rheumatoid Arthritis (COMORA). Methods: This is a national sub-analysis of the COMORA study. We studied the demographics and disease characteristics of 200 adults patients diagnosed with RA (1987 ACR), and routine practices for screening and preventing the following selected comorbidities: cardiovascular, infections, cancer, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, osteoporosis and depression. Results: Patients had a mean age of 58 years and a mean RA duration of 10 years. Mean DAS28 score was 3.3 and approximately 25% of patients were in remission (DAS28 20% (51%), hypercholesterolemia (46%) or hypertension (41%) and smoking (25%) were the most common CV risk factors. For prostate, colon and skin cancers, only 9%, 10% and 18% of patients, respectively, were optimally monitored. Infections were also inadequately managed, with 7% and 17% of patients vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal, respectively, as was osteoporosis, with 47% of patients supplemented with vitamin D and 56% with a bone densitometry performed. Conclusions: In Spain, the prevalence of comorbidities and CV risk factors in RA patients with established and advanced disease is relatively high, and their management in clinical daily practice remains suboptimal.Objetivos: Describir la prevalencia de comorbilidades en pacientes con AR en España y discutir sobre su manejo en la clínica diaria utilizando los datos de la cohorte española del estudio internacional COMORA. Métodos: Subanálisis nacional del estudio COMORA en el que se analizaron las características demográficas y clínicas de 200 pacientes con AR (1987 ACR) y las prácticas rutinarias para el cribado y la prevención de eventos cardiovasculares (CV), gastrointestinales y pulmonares, infecciones, cáncer, osteoporosis y depresión. Resultados: Los pacientes tenían una edad media de 58 años, una duración media de la enfermedad de 10 años, un DAS28 de 3,3 y el 25% estaba en remisión (DAS28 20% (51%), tener hipercolesterolemia (46%), hipertensión (41%) y fumar (25%) fueron los factores de riesgo CV más comunes. En relación con el cáncer de próstata, colon y piel, solo el 9, 10 y el 18% de los pacientes, respectivamente, estaban óptimamente controlados. Las infecciones tampoco se manejaban de forma óptima, con solo el 7 y el 17% de los pacientes vacunados contra la influenza y neumococo, respectivamente, al igual que la osteoporosis, con el 47% suplementados con la vitamina D y el 56% con una densitometría realizada. Conclusiones: En España, la prevalencia de comorbilidades y factores de riesgo CV en pacientes con AR establecida y avanzada es relativamente alta, y su manejo en la clínica diaria continúa siendo subóptimo.Sin financiaciónNo data JCR 20190.256 SJR (2019) Q4, 49/64 RheumatologyNo data IDR 2019UE