APRIL 2024 to JULY 2024
Author: Bohdana Doskaliuk & Giovanni Fulvio
Spring 2024 Press Review – RMD Open
Association between sinusitis and incident rheumatic diseases
Kronzer et al. (10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003622 ) investigated whether antecedent sinusitis is associated with incident rheumatic disease. Preceding sinusitis was associated with increased risk of several rheumatic diseases, including antiphospholipid syndrome (OR 7.0, 95% CI 1.8-27.0), Sjögren’s disease (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.3), vasculitis (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.9) and polymyalgia rheumatica (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-2.0). Sinusitis was most associated with any rheumatic disease in the 5–10 years before disease onset (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.3). Individuals with seven or more codes for sinusitis had the highest risk for rheumatic disease (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.4).
MRI of shoulder girdle in polymyalgia rheumatica
Fruth et al. (10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004169) investigated whether non-synovial inflammation detected by MRI is characteristic in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). A high prevalence of non-synovial inflammation was identified as striking imaging finding in PMR, in average 3.4±1.7, mean (M)±SD, out of the six predefined sites were inflamed compared with 1.1±1.4 (M±SD) in non-PMR group, p<0.001. The detection of inflammation at three out of six predefined non-synovial sites differentiated PMR patients from controls with a sensitivity/specificity of 73.8%/85.8% and overall better performance than detection of synovitis alone (sensitivity/specificity of 86.1%/36.1%, respectively).
Twenty-year trajectories of morbidity in individuals with and without osteoarthritis
Dell’Isola et al. (10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004164) intestigated multimorbidity trajectories over 20 years among incident osteoarthritis (OA) individuals and OA-free matched references. We identified 9846 OA cases (mean age: 65.9, SD 11.7, female: 58%) and 9846 matched references. Four classes were identified. At the study outset, all classes exhibited a low average number of chronic conditions (≤1). Class 1 had the lowest count of chronic conditions at the end of the follow-up (mean 2.9, SD 1.7), while class 4 had the highest (mean 9.6, SD 2.6). The presence of OA was associated with a 1.29 (1.12-1.48) adjusted relative risk of belonging to class 1 up to 2.45 (2.12-2.83) for class 4.
Impact of inflammation on cognitive function in patients with highly inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis
Mena-Vázquez et al. (10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004422) investigated cognitive function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory activity. Patients more frequently experienced cognitive impairment than controls (60% vs 40%; p=0.019) and had lower mean (SD) values in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (23.6 (3.9) vs 25.1 (3.4); p=0.019. Cognitive impairment is associated with age and a lower educational level in the general population, and among patients with RA with educational level, obesity and average inflammatory activity (DAS28, CRP, and IL-6).
Risk of developing psoriatic arthritis in psoriasis cohorts with arthralgia
Zabotti et al. (10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004314) investigated the probability of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) development in subclinical PsA (defined as the presence of arthralgia in psoriasis), the subclinical PsA symptoms and the clinical patterns at the diagnosis. Subclinical PsA displayed a higher risk of PsA development compared with psoriasis (PsO) (HR=11.7 (95% CI 1.57 to 86.7), p=0.016). 58.9% of cases reported inflammatory symptoms in the months immediately prior to PsA diagnosis but prior non-inflammatory symptoms were evident in 83.9% prior to PsA diagnosis. Peripheral joint swelling was the predominant PsA presentation pattern (82.1%).
Bohdana Doskaliuk
Bohdana is an Assistant Professor at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University. Her PhD research focused on pulmonary involvement in systemic sclerosis and its potential correction. Bohdana actively contributes also as a reviewer and editor. She serves as an Associate Editor for Rheumatology International and is the Editorial Board member for Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease.and Rheumatology Advances in Practice. She is also affiliated with the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and European Respiratory Society. Bohdana is a Country Liaison Sub-Committee member.
Giovanni Fulvio
Giovanni is currently a PhD student at the University of Pisa. His research is focused on salivary gland ultrasonography and the role of multi-modal imaging techniques in rheumatology, particularly in the diagnosis and management of Sjögren’s syndrome. He completed his fellowship at the Rheumatology Unit, University of Pisa, where he also serves as a tutor in salivary gland ultrasonography. Giovanni is actively involved in professional societies, being a member of the Società Italiana di Reumatologia, European Reference Network on Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ERN ReCONNET) and of the EMEUNET Newsletter Sub-Committee.