Alzheimer incidence and prevalence with and without asthma: A Medicare cohort study.

BACKGROUND: International data suggest that asthma, like other inflammatory diseases, might increase Alzheimer disease (AD) risk. OBJECTIVE: We sought to explore risk pathways and future mitigation strategies by comparing diagnostic claims-based AD incidence and prevalence among US patients with asthma with those without asthma. METHODS: This cohort study included a national Medicare 20% random sample (2013-2015). Adult patients with asthma with more than 12 months continuous Medicare were compared with subjects without asthma overall and as matched. Asthma was defined by 1 inpatient or 2 outpatient codes for asthma. The main outcomes were 2-year incident or prevalent AD defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 331.0 or Tenth Revision code G30.0, G30.1, G30.8, or G30.9. RESULTS: Among 5,460,732 total beneficiaries, 678,730 patients were identified with baseline asthma and more often identified as Black or Hispanic, were Medicaid eligible, or resided in a highly disadvantaged neighborhood than those without asthma. Two-year incidence of AD was 1.4% with asthma versus 1.1% without asthma; prevalence was 7.8% versus 5.4% (both P ≤ .001). Per 100,000 patients over 2 years, 303 more incident AD diagnoses occurred in those with asthma, with 2,425 more prevalent cases (P < .001). Multivariable models showed that asthma had greater odds of 2-year AD incidence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.29-1.36]; matched 1.2 [95% CI, 1.17-1.24]) and prevalence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.47-1.50]; matched 1.25 [95% CI, 1.22-1.27]). CONCLUSIONS: Asthma was associated with 20% to 33% increased 2-year incidence and 25% to 48% increased prevalence of claims-based AD in this nationally representative US sample. Future research should investigate risk pathways of underlying comorbidities and social determinants as well as whether there are potential asthma treatments that may preserve brain health.

Receipt of rheumatology care and lupus-specific labs among young adults with systemic lupus erythematosus: A US Medicare retention in care cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: In systemic lupus erythematosus, poor disease outcomes occur in young adults, patients identifying as Black or Hispanic, and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. These identities and social factors differentially shape care access and quality that contribute to lupus health disparities in the US. Thus, our objective was to measure markers of care access and quality, including rheumatology visits (longitudinal care retention) and lupus-specific serology testing, by race and ethnicity, neighborhood disadvantage, and geographic context. METHODS: This cohort study used a geo-linked 20% national sample of young adult Medicare beneficiaries (ages 18-35) with lupus-coded encounters and a 1-year assessment period. Retention in lupus care required a rheumatology visit in each 6-month period, and serology testing required ≥1 complement or dsDNA antibody test within the year. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit for visit-based retention and serology testing to determine associations with race and ethnicity, neighborhood disadvantage, and geography. RESULTS: Among 1,036 young adults with lupus, 39% saw a rheumatologist every 6 months and 28% had serology testing. White beneficiaries from the least disadvantaged quintile of neighborhoods had higher visit-based retention than other beneficiaries (64% vs 30%-60%). Serology testing decreased with increasing neighborhood disadvantage quintile (aOR 0.80; 95% CI 0.71, 0.90) and in the Midwest (aOR 0.46; 0.30, 0.71). CONCLUSION: Disparities in care, measured by rheumatology visits and serology testing, exist by neighborhood disadvantage, race and ethnicity, and region among young adults with lupus, despite uniform Medicare coverage. Findings support evaluating lupus care quality measures and their impact on US lupus outcomes.

Multimorbidity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Literature Review and Future Directions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To offer a narrative review of literature and an update on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) multimorbidity research over the past five years as well as future directions. RECENT FINDINGS: Patients with RA experience higher prevalence of multimorbidity (31-86% vs 18-71% in non-RA) and faster accumulation of comorbidities. Patients with multimorbidity have worse outcomes compared to non-RA multimorbid patients and RA without multimorbidity including mortality, cardiac events, and hospitalizations. Comorbid disease clusters often included: cardiopulmonary, cardiometabolic, and depression and pain-related conditions. High-frequency comorbidities included interstitial lung disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis, thyroid disorders, hypertension, and cancer. Furthermore, patients with RA and multimorbidity are paradoxically at increased risk of high RA disease activity but experience a lower likelihood of biologic use and more biologic failures. RA patients experience higher prevalence of multimorbidity and worse outcomes versus non-RA and RA without multimorbidity. Findings call for further studies.

Rheumatology High Blood Pressure Protocol Reduces Disparities, But Delays Remain for External Primary Care.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To address high blood pressure (BP) in rheumatology patients, we previously implemented BP Connect, a brief staff-driven protocol to address high BP. Although timely follow-up and hypertension rates improved for patients with in-system primary care (PC), many receive PC and rheumatology care in separate health systems. In this cohort study, we compared rates of timely PC follow-up for high BP across-system health maintenance organizations (HMOs) before and after BP Connect implementation. METHODS: All adult patients with high rheumatology clinic BP and PC in that HMO were eligible. BP Connect's protocol engaged the staff in remeasuring high BP (≥140/90 mm Hg), advising cardiovascular disease risk, and connecting timely PC follow-up, which for patients with PC across system includes written follow-up instructions. After an eligible rheumatology visit, the next HMO PC visit with BP was used to determine rates and odds of timely follow-up before and after using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Across 1327 rheumatology visits with high BP and across-system PC (2013-2019), 951 occurred after 2015 BP Connect implementation; 400 had confirmed high BP. Primary care follow-up rose from 20.5% to 23.5%. The odds of timely PC BP follow-up insignificantly changed (odds ratio, 1.19; confidence interval, 0.85-1.68). For visits with Black patients, the odds of timely follow-up did significantly increase (1.95; confidence interval, 1.02-3.79). CONCLUSIONS: Timely follow-up for Black patients did improve, highlighting protocol interventions for more equitable health care. In contrast to our prior in-system study, BP Connect did not significantly improve follow-up with an across-system PC, indicating a need for direct scheduling. Future directions include piloting direct across-system scheduling.

Timing and Predictors of Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Risk Occurs Early and Highlights Racial Disparities.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects Black people 2 to 3 times more frequently than non-Black people and is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. In total, 4 studies with predominantly non-Black SLE cohorts highlighted that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is no longer primarily a late complication of SLE. This study assessed the timing and predictors of incident CVD in a predominantly Black population-based SLE cohort. METHODS: Incident SLE cases from the population-based Georgia Lupus Registry were validated as having a CVD event through review of medical records and matching with the Georgia Hospital Discharge Database and the National Death Index. The surveillance period for an incident CVD event spanned a 15-year period, starting from 2 years prior to SLE diagnosis. RESULTS: Among 336 people with SLE, 253 (75%) were Black and 56 (17%) had an incident CVD event. The frequency of CVD events peaked in years 2 and 11 after SLE diagnosis. There was a 7-fold higher risk of incident CVD over the entire 15-year period; this risk was 19-fold higher in the first 12 years in Black people as compared to non-Black people with SLE. Black people with SLE (P < 0.001) and those with discoid rash (hazard ratio 3.2, 95% CI 1.4-7.1) had a higher risk of incident CVD events. CONCLUSION: The frequency of incident CVD events peaked in years 2 and 11 after SLE diagnosis. Being Black or having a discoid rash were strong predictors of an incident CVD event. Surveillance for CVD and preventive interventions, directed particularly toward Black people with recent SLE diagnoses, are needed to reduce racial disparities.

Age-Stratified 30-day Rehospitalization and Mortality and Predictors of Rehospitalization Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Medicare Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies suggest young adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have high 30-day readmission rates, which may necessitate tailored readmission reduction strategies. To aid in risk stratification for future strategies, we measured 30-day rehospitalization and mortality rates among Medicare beneficiaries with SLE and determined rehospitalization predictors by age. METHODS: In a 2014 20% national Medicare sample of hospitalizations, rehospitalization risk and mortality within 30 days of discharge were calculated for young (aged 18-35 yrs), middle-aged (aged 36-64 yrs), and older (aged 65+ yrs) beneficiaries with and without SLE. Multivariable generalized estimating equation models were used to predict rehospitalization rates among patients with SLE by age group using patient, hospital, and geographic factors. RESULTS: Among 1.39 million Medicare hospitalizations, 10,868 involved beneficiaries with SLE. Hospitalized young adult beneficiaries with SLE were more racially diverse, were living in more disadvantaged areas, and had more comorbidities than older beneficiaries with SLE and those without SLE. Thirty-day rehospitalization was 36% among young adult beneficiaries with SLE-40% higher than peers without SLE and 85% higher than older beneficiaries with SLE. Longer length of stay and higher comorbidity risk score increased odds of rehospitalization in all age groups, whereas specific comorbid condition predictors and their effect varied. Our models, which incorporated neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage, had moderate-to-good predictive value (C statistics 0.67-0.77), outperforming administrative data models lacking comprehensive social determinants in other conditions. CONCLUSION: Young adults with SLE on Medicare had very high 30-day rehospitalization at 36%. Considering socioeconomic disadvantage and comorbidities provided good prediction of rehospitalization risk, particularly in young adults. Young beneficiaries with SLE with comorbidities should be a focus of programs aimed at reducing rehospitalizations.

Brain-Airway Interactions in Asthma.

Asthma and brain interactions have long been appreciated and initially centered on increased anxiety and depression. Epidemiology studies have shown that early life stressors and situational disadvantages are risk factors for asthma. Conversely, the presence of asthma is a risk for mood and anxiety disorders, thus indicating a bidirectional effect between asthma and brain-related health. To substantiate asthma-brain interactions, validated instruments indicate and elucidate that communication likely exists between asthma and the brain. For example, provocation of an asthmatic response with an allergen challenge modulates how the brain responds to emotion-laden information. As detected by imaging studies, emotion-related brain activation is associated with generating airway inflammation. However, the specific mediators and processes mediating airway communication with the brain have yet to be established.Systemic inflammation is also associated with asthma and can affect other organ systems such as the cardiovascular system and the brain. Epidemiology studies have shown that asthma is a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer's disease. In support of the importance of asthma as a risk factor for impaired cognitive function, imaging studies have shown changes to the white matter of the brain in asthma patients that resemble neuroinflammation changes seen in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, bidirectional links between asthma and the brain exist with an important next research step to define asthma-brain interactions linked to neurodegeneration and dementia and explore whether treatments directed toward asthma-related inflammation can prevent the deleterious effects of asthma on brain health.

Good working relationships: how healthcare system proximity influences trust between healthcare workers.

Trust between healthcare workers is a fundamental component of effective, interprofessional collaboration and teamwork. However, little is known about how this trust is built, particularly when healthcare workers are distributed (i.e., not co-located and lack a shared electronic health record). We interviewed 39 healthcare workers who worked with proximal and distributed colleagues to care for patients with diabetic foot ulcers and analyzed transcripts using content analysis. Generally, building trust was a process that occurred over time, starting with an introduction and proceeding through iterative cycles of communication and working together to coordinate care for shared patients. Proximal, compared to distributed, dyads had more options available for interactions which, in turn, facilitated communication and working together to build trust. Distributed healthcare workers found it more difficult to develop trusting relationships and relied heavily on individual initiative to do so. Few effective tools existed at the level of interprofessional collaborations, teams, or broader healthcare systems to support trust between distributed healthcare workers. With increasing use of distributed interprofessional collaborations and teams, future efforts should focus on fostering this critical attribute.

Rheumatology Clinic Staff Needs: Barriers and Strategies to Addressing High Blood Pressure and Smoking Risk.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with rheumatologic conditions are at elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to inflammatory and traditional risk factors, such as high blood pressure (BP) and smoking. However, rheumatology clinics rarely address traditional risk factors, although they are routinely assessed and modifiable in primary care. The present study sought to (1) characterize rheumatology clinic staff's work process for addressing high BP and smoking and (2) identify barriers and strategies for effective management of these risk factors. METHODS: We conducted 7 focus groups with medical assistants, nurses, and scheduling staff from 4 adult rheumatology clinics across 2 health systems (BP focus groups, n = 23; smoking, n = 20). Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis to elucidate barriers and strategies. RESULTS: We found 3 clinic work processes for the management of high BP and smoking risk: (1) risk identification, (2) follow-up within the clinic, and (3) follow-up with primary care and community resources. Within these processes, we identified barriers and strategies grouped into themes: (1) time, (2) clinic workflows, (3) technology and resources, (4) staff's attitudes and knowledge, and (5) staff's perceptions of patients. The most pervasive barriers were (1) no structured system for follow-up and (2) staff confidence and skill in initiating conversations about health-related behavior change. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified generalizable gaps in rheumatology staff's work processes and competencies for addressing high BP and smoking in patients. Future efforts to support staff needs should target (1) systems for follow-up within and outside the clinic and (2) conversation support tools.

Race, Ethnicity, Neighborhood Characteristics, and In-Hospital Coronavirus Disease-2019 Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Despite many studies reporting disparities in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) incidence and outcomes in Black and Hispanic/Latino populations, mechanisms are not fully understood to inform mitigation strategies. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to test whether neighborhood factors beyond individual patient-level factors are associated with in-hospital mortality from COVID-19. We hypothesized that the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a neighborhood census-block-level composite measure, was associated with COVID-19 mortality independently of race, ethnicity, and other patient factors. RESEARCH DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective cohort study examining COVID-19 in-hospital mortality. SUBJECTS: Inclusion required hospitalization with positive SARS-CoV-2 test or COVID-19 diagnosis at three large Midwestern academic centers. MEASURES: The primary study outcome was COVID-19 in-hospital mortality. Patient-level predictors included age, sex, race, insurance, body mass index, comorbidities, and ventilation. Neighborhoods were examined through the national ADI neighborhood deprivation rank comparing in-hospital mortality across ADI quintiles. Analyses used multivariable logistic regression with fixed site effects. RESULTS: Among 5999 COVID-19 patients median age was 61 (interquartile range: 44-73), 48% were male, 30% Black, and 10.8% died. Among patients who died, 32% lived in the most disadvantaged quintile while 11% lived in the least disadvantaged quintile; 52% of Black, 24% of Hispanic/Latino, and 8.5% of White patients lived in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods.Living in the most disadvantaged neighborhood quintile predicted higher mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 1.74; 95% confidence interval: 1.13-2.67) independent of race. Age, male sex, Medicare coverage, and ventilation also predicted mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Neighborhood disadvantage independently predicted in-hospital COVID-19 mortality. Findings support calls to consider neighborhood measures for vaccine distribution and policies to mitigate disparities.

Smoking exposure in pack-years predicts cutaneous manifestations and damage in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of cumulative smoking in pack-years on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cutaneous manifestations and damage. METHODS: Our cohort study included 632 adult SLE patients at an academic center, meeting 1997 ACR or 2012 SLICC classification criteria. Outcomes were: (1) cutaneous SLICC Damage Index (SDI), (2) ACR and SLICC criteria. Smoking exposure was defined as low (<5 pack-years), medium (5-10), and high (>10), compared to non-smokers. Analysis used multivariable logistic regression to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals (OR, (95% CI)). RESULTS: Among 632 SLE patients, mean age 42 ± 14, 91% were female, 82% White, and 40% were ever smokers. Black patients were more likely to have smoked (51% vs. 41% White, 11% Other). Chronic SLICC and SDI cutaneous criteria showed linear pack-year trends, meeting significance with high smoking exposure (OR 2.2, (1.2, 4.2); OR 4.2, (1.9, 9.2)). Those with medium exposure were more likely to meet acute SLICC cutaneous criteria (OR 2.3, (1.1, 5.1)). Low exposure predicted any cutaneous SLICC and ACR criteria (OR 3.7, (1.3, 10.6); OR 2.0 (1.03, 3.8)). Patients of color had more chronic SLICC cutaneous criteria (Other Race OR 3.6 (1.6, 8.1)) and SDI skin damage (Black OR 2.6 (1.1, 5.9)) even controlling for smoking exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking was an independent risk factor for cutaneous SLE. High pack-year exposure and non-White race increased chronic skin manifestations and SDI damage. Findings suggested a dose relationship between smoking and cutaneous SLE damage, making cessation messaging important to potentially improve outcomes and reduce some disparities.

The effect of smoking on cumulative damage in systemic lupus erythematosus: An incident cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between smoking history and pack-year exposure on the rate of end-organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: The SLE incident cohort included patients who met American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1997 or SLE International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) 2012 SLE criteria and had rheumatology encounters at a US academic institution (2008-16). The primary outcome was median time to SLICC/ACR damage index (SLICC/ACR-DI) increase or death. Main explanatory variables were smoking status and pack-years. Covariates included age, sex, race, ethnicity, receipt of Medicaid, neighborhood area deprivation index, and baseline SLE damage. Damage increase-free survival was evaluated by smoking status and pack-years using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods. RESULTS: Patients of Black race and Medicaid recipients were more commonly current smokers (p's < 0.05). Former smokers were older and more likely to have late-onset SLE (54% versus 33% of never and 29% of current smokers, p = 0.001). Median time to SLICC/ACR-DI increase or death was earlier in current or former compared to never smokers (4.5 and 3.4 versus 9.0 yrs; p = 0.002). In multivariable models, the rate of damage accumulation was twice as fast in current smokers (HR 2.18; 1.33, 3.57) and smokers with a >10 pack-year history (HR 2.35; 1.15, 3.64) versus never smokers. CONCLUSIONS: In this incident SLE cohort, past or current smoking predicted new SLE damage 4-5 years earlier. After adjustment, current smokers and patients with a pack-year history of >10 years accumulated damage at twice the rate of never smokers.

A systematic review of multidisciplinary teams to reduce major amputations for patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple single-center studies have reported significant reductions in major amputations among patients with diabetic foot ulcers after initiation of multidisciplinary teams. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between multidisciplinary teams (ie, two or more types of clinicians working together) and the risk of major amputation and to compile descriptions of these diverse teams. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception through May 24, 2019 for studies reporting the association between multidisciplinary teams and major amputation rates for patients with diabetic foot ulcers. We included original studies if ≥50% of the patients seen by the multidisciplinary team had diabetes, they included a control group, and they reported the effect of a multidisciplinary team on major amputation rates. Studies were excluded if they were non-English language, abstracts only, or unpublished. We used the five-domain Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety Model to describe team composition and function and summarized changes in major amputation rates associated with multidisciplinary team care. A meta-analysis was not performed because of heterogeneity across studies, their observational designs, and the potential for uncontrolled confounding (PROSPERO No. 2017: CRD42017067915). RESULTS: We included 33 studies, none of which were randomized trials. Multidisciplinary team composition and functions were highly diverse. However, four elements were common across teams: teams were composed of medical and surgical disciplines; larger teams benefitted from having a "captain" and a nuclear and ancillary team member structure; clear referral pathways and care algorithms supported timely, comprehensive care; and multidisciplinary teams addressed four key tasks: glycemic control, local wound management, vascular disease, and infection. Ninety-four percent (31/33) of studies reported a reduction in major amputations after institution of a multidisciplinary team. CONCLUSIONS: Multidisciplinary team composition was variable but reduced major amputations in 94% of studies. Teams consistently addressed glycemic control, local wound management, vascular disease, and infection in a timely and coordinated manner to reduce major amputation for patients with diabetic foot ulcerations. Care algorithms and referral pathways were key tools to their success.

Assessing Unwanted Variations in Rheumatology Clinic Previsit Rooming.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatologists face time pressures similar to primary care but have not generally benefitted from optimized team-based rooming during the time from the waiting room until the rheumatologist enters the room. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess current capacity for population management in rheumatology clinics; we aimed to measure the tasks performed by rheumatology clinic staff (medical assistants or nurses) during rooming. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional time-study and work-system analysis to measure rooming workflows at 3 rheumatology clinics in an academic multispecialty practice during 2014-2015. We calculated descriptive statistics and compared frequencies and durations using Fisher exact test and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Observing 190 rheumatology clinic previsit rooming sequences (1419 minutes), we found many significant variations. Total rooming duration varied by clinic (median, 6.75-8.25 minutes; p < 0.001). Vital sign measurement and medication reconciliation accounted for more than half of rooming duration. Among 3 clinics, two of 15 tasks varied significantly in duration, and 9 varied in frequency. Findings led clinic leaders to modify policies and procedures regarding 6 high-variation tasks streamlining assessment of weight, height, pain scores, tobacco use, disease activity, and refill needs. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing rheumatology rooming tasks identified key opportunities to improve quality and efficiency without burdening providers. This project demonstrated user-friendly methods to identify opportunities to standardize rooming and support data-driven decisions regarding rheumatology clinic practice changes to improve population management in rheumatology.

DNA Area and NETosis Analysis (DANA): a High-Throughput Method to Quantify Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Fluorescent Microscope Images.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), extracellular structures composed of decondensed chromatin and antimicrobial molecules, are released in a process called NETosis. NETs, which are part of normal host defense, have also been implicated in multiple human diseases. Unfortunately, methods for quantifying NETs have limitations which constrain the study of NETs in disease. Establishing optimal methods for NET quantification holds the potential to further elucidate the role of NETs in normal and pathologic processes. RESULTS: To better quantify NETs and NET-like structures, we created DNA Area and NETosis Analysis (DANA), a novel ImageJ/Java based program which provides a simple, semi-automated approach to quantify NET-like structures and DNA area. DANA can analyze many fluorescent microscope images at once and provides data on a per cell, per image, and per sample basis. Using fluorescent microscope images of Sytox-stained human neutrophils, DANA quantified a similar frequency of NET-like structures to the frequency determined by two different individuals counting by eye, and in a fraction of the time. As expected, DANA also detected increased DNA area and frequency of NET-like structures in neutrophils from subjects with rheumatoid arthritis as compared to control subjects. Using images of DAPI-stained murine neutrophils, DANA (installed by an individual with no programming background) gave similar frequencies of NET-like structures as the frequency of NETs determined by two individuals counting by eye. Further, DANA quantified more NETs in stimulated murine neutrophils compared to unstimulated, as expected. CONCLUSIONS: DANA provides a means to quantify DNA decondensation and the frequency of NET-like structures using a variety of different fluorescent markers in a rapid, reliable, simple, high-throughput, and cost-effective manner making it optimal to assess NETosis in a variety of conditions.

Frequency and Predictors of Communication About High Blood Pressure in Rheumatoid Arthritis Visits.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Given heightened cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and that higher blood pressure (BP) represents greater CVD risk, we hypothesized that higher BP would predict more BP-related communication in rheumatology visits. We examined predictors of documented BP communication during RA clinic visits. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of RA patients identified in electronic health record records with uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) receiving both primary and rheumatology care. Trained abstractors reviewed RA visit notes for "BP communication" using a standardized tool to elicit documentation about BP or HTN beyond recording vital signs. We used multivariate logistic regression to examine the impact of BP category (American Heart Association: ideal normotension, pre-HTN, and stages I and II HTN) on odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of BP communication. RESULTS: Among 1267 RA patients, 40% experienced BP elevations meeting the definition of uncontrolled HTN. Of 2677 eligible RA visits, 22% contained any documented BP communication. After adjustment, models predicted only 31% of visits with markedly high BPs 160/100 mm Hg or greater would contain BP communication. Compared with stage I, stage II elevation did not significantly increase communication (odds ratio, 2.0 [95% confidence interval, 1.4-2.8] vs. 1.5 [1.2-2.2]), although both groups' odds exceeded pre-HTN and normotension. Less than 10% of eligible visits resulted in documented action steps recommending follow-up of high BP. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of BP magnitude, most RA clinic visits lacked documented communication about BP despite compounded CVD risk. Future work should study how rheumatology clinics can facilitate follow-up of high BPs to address HTN as the most common and reversible CVD risk factor.

Managing Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Clinical Updates and Three Strategic Approaches.

ᅟ: The increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is well known; however, appropriate management of this elevated risk in rheumatology clinics is less clear. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: By critically reviewing literature published within the past 5 years, we aim to clarify current knowledge and gaps regarding CVD risk management in RA. RECENT FINDINGS: We examine recent guidelines, recommendations, and evidence and discuss three approaches: (1) RA-specific management including treat-to-target and medication management, (2) assessment of comprehensive individual risk, and (3) targeting traditional CVD risk factors (hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity) at a population level. Considering that 75% of US RA visits occur in specialty clinics, further research is needed regarding evidence-based strategies to manage and reduce CVD risk in RA. This review highlights clinical updates including US cardiology and international professional society guidelines, successful evidence-based population approaches from primary care, and novel opportunities in rheumatology care to reduce CVD risk in RA.

Rheumatologists Modestly More Likely to Counsel Smokers in Visits Without Rheumatoid Arthritis Control: An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), smoking increases risk of severe RA and pulmonary and cardiovascular disease. Despite this, little is known about smoking cessation counseling by rheumatologists. OBJECTIVES: We examined predictors of tobacco counseling in RA patients who smoke including the effect of perceived RA control. We hypothesized that patients with controlled RA would receive more counseling according to the competing demands model, which explains that preventive care gaps occur as a result of competing provider, patient, and clinic factors. METHODS: This secondary data analysis involved RA patients with an additional cardiovascular disease risk factor identified in an academic medical center 2004-2011. Trained abstractors assessed documented smoking counseling and rheumatologists' impression of RA control in clinic notes. We used multivariable logistic regression to predict having received smoking cessation counseling, including sociodemographics and comorbidity in models. RESULTS: We abstracted 3396 RA visits, including 360 visits (10%) with active smokers. Perceived controlled RA was present in 31% of visits involving smokers (39% in nonsmokers). Beyond nurse documentation, providers documented smoking status in 39% of visit notes with smokers and smoking cessation counseling in 10%. Visits with controlled versus active RA were less likely to include counseling (odds ratio, 0.3; confidence interval, 0.1-0.97). Counseling was more likely in visits with prevalent cardiovascular, pulmonary, and psychiatric disease, but decreased with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation counseling was documented in 10% of visits and was less likely when RA was controlled. Given smoking's impact on RA and long-term outcomes, systematic cessation counseling efforts are needed.

Rheumatoid arthritis and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE: RA increases vascular disease and angiogenesis, yet a 1964 Lancet report paradoxically linked RA to lower diabetic retinopathy. Our objective was to examine RA as a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy compared with other vascular risk factors. METHODS: This cohort study compared the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in diabetes patients with and without RA in a 5% Medicare sample. We analysed the impact of RA on the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy using multivariate logistic regression calculating adjusted rate ratios (ARRs) controlling for sociodemographics, co-morbidity and health utilization. Sensitivity analysis examined eye exam rates. RESULTS: Among 256 331 Medicare diabetes patients, 5572 (2%) had RA. Diabetic retinopathy was less prevalent in patients with RA compared with those without RA (13.7% vs 16.1%, P ≤ 0.01). Compared with patients without RA, the adjusted model demonstrated that patients with diabetes and RA were 28% less likely to have diabetic retinopathy and 4% more likely to receive an eye exam [ARR 0.72 (95% CI 0.67, 0.77), ARR 1.04 (95% CI 1.02, 1.06)]. CONCLUSION: Findings support the 1964 paradox observing decreased diabetic retinopathy in patients with RA. These findings pose new questions regarding whether RA physiology or treatments protect against diabetic retinopathy and how intraocular factors vary in contrast to adverse vascular changes elsewhere.