[Current patient care of giant cell arteritis in Rhineland-Palatinate]. / Versorgungssituation der Riesenzellarteriitis in RheinlandPfalz.
Z Rheumatol
; 78(7): 677-684, 2019 Sep.
Article
en De
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29869153
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is one of the most common forms of inflammatory vasculitis in older patients. Because of possible irreversible vision deterioration, a fastest possible diagnosis and therapy is of absolute importance. To date, there are still no reliable data to obtain an initial assessment of the outpatient health care situation of patients diagnosed with GCA in Rhineland-Palatinate.METHODS:
The specialists (neurologists, rheumatologists, ophthalmologists and general practitioners) participating in the statewide rheumatology network ADAPTHERA were questioned with the help of a questionnaire regarding disease frequency, activity, drug therapy and possible comorbidities. In addition, the collected data were compared and supplemented by the ambulatory coding of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Rhineland-Palatinate.RESULTS:
Based on the information provided by general practitioners, 272 GCA patients were treated in Rhineland-Palatinate during the survey period. The average duration of the disease until diagnosis was 3.6 (SD⯱ 4.8) months. Drug therapy in the form of glucocorticoids was in first place followed by methotrexate, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and azathioprine. Cardiovascular diseases, chronic pain syndromes, depression, osteoporosis and diabetes mellitus were also described as comorbidities.CONCLUSION:
The majority of patients with GCA are being cared for by general practitioners (GP). Long-term therapy and timely rheumatological co-treatment seem to be problematic. The primary care providers expressed their wishes for rheumatological training and further education measures. In terms of diagnosis and treatment, there is a demand to implement a "vasculitis fast-track" module.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Polimialgia Reumática
/
Atención Primaria de Salud
/
Reumatología
/
Arteritis de Células Gigantes
/
Educación Médica Continua
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
Límite:
Aged
/
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
De
Revista:
Z Rheumatol
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article