Important Treatment Outcomes for Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: A Multisite Qualitative Study

© 2017, The Author(s). Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a variable and complex inflammatory condition. Symptoms can compromise physical function, reduce quality of life, and accrue significant health costs. Commonly used patient-reported outcomes largely reflect the professionals’ perspective, however it is not known whether they capture what is important to patients. Objective: The aim of our study was to identify treatment outcomes important to patients with PsA. Methods: Eight focus groups that were audio recorded, transcribed, anonymised and analysed using inductive thematic analysis were conducted at five hospital sites. The full data set was analysed by the lead researcher, and subsets analysed by three team members (including patient partners). Results: Overall, 41 patients sampled for a range of phenotypes and domains of disease activity participated in the study: 20 males; mean age 58years (range 28–75, standard deviation [SD] 11.4); mean disease duration 9years (range 0.5–39, SD 8.3); and mean Health Assessment Questionnaire score of 1 (range 0.0–2.5, SD 0.7). Over 60 outcomes were identified and grouped into four themes: (i) symptom alleviation (e.g. pain, fatigue, itchy skin, swelling, and reducing variability); (ii) reduction of disease impact (e.g. tiredness and pain, mobility and dexterity, deteriorating physical fitness, negative emotional responses, and strained relationships and social interactions); (iii) improved prognosis (e.g. slowing down disease progression, maintaining independence, and enhancing quality of life); and (iv) minimisation of treatment harm and burden (e.g. nausea, long-term effects, and administration and monitoring of treatments). Conclusions: Outcomes from treatments that are important to patients, which relate to impacts from PsA and its treatment that range beyond those outcomes commonly measured, were identified. These patient perspectives need to be considered when evaluating treatments

A review of combined advanced oxidation technologies for the removal of organic pollutants from water

Water pollution through natural and anthropogenic activities has become a global problem causing short-and long-term impact on human and ecosystems. Substantial quantity of individual or mixtures of organic pollutants enter the surface water via point and nonpoint sources and thus affect the quality of freshwater. These pollutants are known to be toxic and difficult to remove by mere biological treatment. To date, most researches on the removal of organic pollutants from wastewater were based on the exploitation of individual treatment process. This single-treatment technology has inherent challenges and shortcomings with respect to efficiency and economics. Thus, application of two advanced treatment technologies characterized with high efficiency with respect to removal of primary and disinfection by-products in wastewater is desirable. This review article focuses on the application of integrated technologies such as electrohydraulic discharge with heterogeneous photocatalysts or sonophotocatalysis to remove target pollutants. The information gathered from more than 100 published articles, mostly laboratories studies, shows that process integration effectively remove and degrade recalcitrant toxic contaminants in wastewater better than single-technology processing. This review recommends an improvement on this technology (integrated electrohydraulic discharge with heterogeneous photocatalysts) viz-a-vis cost reduction in order to make it accessible and available in the rural and semi-urban settlement. Further recommendation includes development of an economic model to establish the cost implications of the combined technology. Proper monitoring, enforcement of the existing environmental regulations, and upgrading of current wastewater treatment plants with additional treatment steps such as photocatalysis and ozonation will greatly assist in the removal of environmental toxicants

Patient-defined flares and disease activity worsening in 222 patients with psoriatic arthritis from 14 countries

Objectives: To explore patient-defined flares in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), compared to an increase in Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), and to analyze the validity of a patient-reported flare question. Methods: ReFlap (NCT03119805) was a longitudinal study in 14 countries of consecutive patients with definite PsA. Patients were seen twice in the context of usual care, 4.5±2.2 months apart. Flares were reported by patients and physicians at the second visit using a single question. DAPSA worsening was defined as a change to a higher DAPSA category. Agreement between the definitions of worsening was calculated by prevalence adjusted bias adjusted kappa (PABAK). Validity of patient-reported flare was assessed by comparing patients with versus without flare and transition to flares. Results: In 222 patients, mean disease duration 10.8±8.3 years, 127 (58.8%) males: disease activity was low (mean DAPSA 11.5±14.0); 63.3% received a bDMARD. Patient-reported flares between the 2 visits were seen in 27.0% patients (for these patients, mean 2.2±3.7 flares per patient, mean duration 12.6±21.0 days per flare). Physician- reported flares were seen in 17.6% and worsening in DAPSA in 40.1% of patients. Agreement between definitions was moderate (PABAK=0.32-0.59). Patients in flare had significantly more active disease than patients not in flare for all outcomes (all p<0.001). At the patient-level, transition to flare state was associated to a worsening in disease activity and impact outcomes. Conclusions: Patient flares were frequent and were associated with active and symptomatic disease. These findings provide preliminary validation for patient-reported flares in PsA

Disparities in health care in psoriatic arthritis, an analysis of 439 patients from 13 countries

OBJECTIVES: Patient care can vary substantially by country. The objective was to explore differences in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) across countries for disease activity, impact and treatments. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of 13 countries from the Remission/Flare in PsA study (NCT03119805) of consecutive adult patients with definite PsA was performed. Countries were classified into tertiles by gross domestic product (GDP)/capita. Disease activity (Disease Activity in PsA, DAPSA and Minimal Disease Activity, MDA) and their components, disease impact (patient-reported outcomes) and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were analysed per country and compared between the three tertiles of GDP/capita by parametric and non-parametric tests. We also explored the percentage of patients with significant disease activity (DAPSA >14) and no ongoing bDMARD prescription. RESULTS: In 439 patients (50.6% male, mean age 52.3 years, mean disease duration 10.1 years), disease activity and disease impact were higher in the lowest GDP/capita countries. DAPSA remission and MDA were attained in the lowest tertile in 7.0% and 18.4% patients, vs 29.1% and 49.5% in the middle tertile and 16.8% and 41.3% in the high tertile, respectively (all p14 and no bDMARDs was 18.5%, and was higher in lower GDP/capita countries (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: PsA patients from countries with the lowest GDP/capita, despite similar use of bDMARDs, were more likely to have high disease activity and worse disease impact. There is a need for more equity in healthcare

Determinants of patient-reported psoriatic arthritis impact of disease: an analysis of the association with gender in 458 patients from 14 countries

OBJECTIVES: Gender differences may modify symptoms, disease expression, and treatment effects. The objective was to evaluate the link between life impact and gender in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: ReFlaP (NCT03119805) was a study in 14 countries of consecutive adult patients with definite PsA. Participants underwent comprehensive PsA assessment: Disease Activity in PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), Minimal Disease Activity (MDA), and Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID). Disease activity was compared by gender using t-tests or Wilcoxon tests. The association of PsAID with gender was analyzed using hierarchical generalized linear models. RESULTS: Of 458 participants 50.2% were male, mean age (SD) 53.1 (12.6) years, PsA duration 11 (8.2) years, and 51.5% taking bDMARDs. Women versus men had worse Leeds enthesitis index: 0.8 (1.7) / 0.3 (0.9), pain [numerical rating scale 0-10 (NRS)]: 4.7 (2.7) / 3.5 (2.7), HAQ-DI: 0.9 (0.7) / 0.5 (0.6), fatigue NRS: 5.2 (3) / 3.3 (2.8), PsAID: 4.1 (2.4) / 2.8 (2.3), pandlt;0.001 for all, and were less frequently at treatment target (T2T): DAPSA (DAPSA cut-offs and#8804;4 remission, andgt;4 and and#8804;14 low disease activity): 16.9 (14.9) / 12.6 (16.6), MDA: 25.7% / 50.0%, pandlt;0.001 for all. High life impact (PsAIDand#8805;4) was associated with female gender [odds ratio (OR) 2.3], enthesitis (OR 1.34), tender joints (OR 1.10) pandlt;0.001 for all, and comorbidities (OR 1.22, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: High life impact was independently associated with female gender, enthesitis, comorbidities, and tender joints. At T2T, women vs men had higher life impact. Life impact needs to become part of PsA T2T strategies.</p

Determinants of patient-reported psoriatic arthritis impact of disease: an analysis of the association with gender in 458 patients from 14 countries

OBJECTIVES: Gender differences may modify symptoms, disease expression, and treatment effects. The objective was to evaluate the link between life impact and gender in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: ReFlaP (NCT03119805) was a study in 14 countries of consecutive adult patients with definite PsA. Participants underwent comprehensive PsA assessment: Disease Activity in PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), Minimal Disease Activity (MDA), and Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID). Disease activity was compared by gender using t-tests or Wilcoxon tests. The association of PsAID with gender was analyzed using hierarchical generalized linear models. RESULTS: Of 458 participants 50.2% were male, mean age (SD) 53.1 (12.6) years, PsA duration 11 (8.2) years, and 51.5% taking bDMARDs. Women versus men had worse Leeds enthesitis index: 0.8 (1.7) / 0.3 (0.9), pain [numerical rating scale 0-10 (NRS)]: 4.7 (2.7) / 3.5 (2.7), HAQ-DI: 0.9 (0.7) / 0.5 (0.6), fatigue NRS: 5.2 (3) / 3.3 (2.8), PsAID: 4.1 (2.4) / 2.8 (2.3), p&lt;0.001 for all, and were less frequently at treatment target (T2T): DAPSA (DAPSA cut-offs ≤4 remission, &gt;4 and ≤14 low disease activity): 16.9 (14.9) / 12.6 (16.6), MDA: 25.7% / 50.0%, p&lt;0.001 for all. High life impact (PsAID≥4) was associated with female gender [odds ratio (OR) 2.3], enthesitis (OR 1.34), tender joints (OR 1.10) p&lt;0.001 for all, and comorbidities (OR 1.22, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: High life impact was independently associated with female gender, enthesitis, comorbidities, and tender joints. At T2T, women vs men had higher life impact. Life impact needs to become part of PsA T2T strategies.</p

Comparing patient-perceived and physician-perceived remission and low disease activity in psoriatic arthritis: an analysis of 410 patients from 14 countries

Background The objective was to compare different definitions of remission and low disease activity (LDA) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), based on both patients’ and physicians’ perspectives. Methods In ReFlap (Remission/Flare in PsA; NCT03119805), adults with physician-confirmed PsA and >2 years of disease duration in 14 countries were included. Remission was defined as very low disease activity (VLDA), Disease Activity index for PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) ≤4, and physician-perceived and patient-perceived remission (specific question yes/no), and LDA as minimal disease activity (MDA), DAPSA and#60;14, and physician-perceived and patient-perceived LDA. Frequencies of these definitions, their agreement (prevalence-adjusted kappa), and sensitivity and specificity versus patient-defined status were assessed cross-sectionally. Results Of 410 patients, the mean age (SD) was 53.9 (12.5) years, 50.7% were male, disease duration was 11.2 (8.2) years, 56.8% were on biologics, and remission/LDA was frequently attained: respectively, for remission from 12.4% (VLDA) to 36.1% (physician-perceived remission), and for LDA from 25.4% (MDA) to 43.9% (patient-perceived LDA). Thus, patient-perceived remission/LDA was frequent (65.4%). Agreement between patient-perceived remission/LDA and composite scores was moderate to good (kappa range, 0.12–0.65). When patient-perceived remission or LDA status is used as reference, DAPSA-defined remission/LDA and VLDA/MDA had a sensitivity of 73.1% and 51.5%, respectively, and a specificity of 76.8% and 88.0%, respectively. Physician-perceived remission/LDA using a single question was frequent (67.6%) but performed poorly against other definitions. Conclusion In this unselected population, remission/LDA was frequently attained. VLDA/MDA was a more stringent definition than DAPSA-based remission/LDA. DAPSA-based remission/LDA performed better than VLDA/MDA to detect patient-defined remission or remission/LDA. Further studies of long-term outcomes are needed