New Global Initiative For Evidence-Based Referral Criteria in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

18-Jun-2001

The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), in partnership with several of the world's leading rheumatologists today announced a global initiative to assist general practitioners in the early detection of rheumatoid arthritis. The initiative, termed CARE, (Collaboration to Assess and Refer Early) has been established to meet the need for simplified RA referral criteria to allow early referral of suspected RA patients to rheumatologists for further treatment. The CARE early referral recommendation has been submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

"There is a definite need for physicians to identify rheumatoid arthritis earlier, since we know the greatest amount of structural damage occurs within the first two years of disease onset, leading to disability" said Professor Paul Emery, Head of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Research, University of Leeds, UK and chair of the CARE initiative. "Physicians need to recognize that early referral to a rhematologist within the first 12 weeks of onset of symptoms and treatment with a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug improves long-term outcomes for patients. Based on the evidence, it is clear that early referral of suspected RA patients should be considered a medical emergency", he added.

The analysis, presented today at the 2nd annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) establishes an evidence-based referral recommendation (ERR) as a clinical guide for general practitioners to detect RA. The literature was reviewed targeting early RA, early RA clinics (EACs), DMARD therapy for early RA, prognostic disease progression, quality of life and early RA clinical trials. The clinical evidence was classified according to the principles of evidence-based medicine leading to the formation of the early referral recommendation, which states that rapid referral to a rheumatologist is necessary in the event of clinical suspicion of RA, which may be supported by the presence of any of the following: 3 swollen joints, swollen hand joints and/or morning stiffness of 30 minutes. The clinical evidence also supported that structural damage occurs early and that early DMARD therapy improves the long-term outcome of the disease.

"We are pleased to be part of the CARE initiative and we fully endorse the criteria. We hope that this information will encourage rheumatologists and General Practitioners to discuss how to best manage patients with a potential RA diagnosis", said Prof. Piet van Riel, Chairman of the EULAR Standing Committee for clinical trials. EULAR aims at combating rheumatic diseases not only through medical means, but through a wider context of care for rheumatoid arthritis patients and an understanding of their needs. The CARE initiative fits very well with our mission and we strongly support it", he added.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), one of the most common forms of arthritis, affects approximately 165 million patients worldwide (total prevalence) based on The World Health Report 1998, WHO. It is a systemic, chronic and debilitating autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks healthy tissue lining the joints, leading to pain, deformity and disability. It can also have extra-articular manifestations, some of them with serious consequences. While the cause of RA is not yet known, bacterial or viral infections, genetic markers, and/or stress are considered possible risk factors.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/3533/new-global-initiative-for-evidence-based-referral-criteria-in-rheumatoid-arthritis-ra.html