A model for the development and implementation of a national plan for the optimal management of early spondyloarthritis: the Esperanza Program.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of a healthcare programme in early spondyloarthritis (SpA). METHODS: Based on previous analyses and expectations of a nominal group, the following were set: (1) minimum standards to create early SpA units; (2) standard operating procedures; and (3) eight performance indicators that can be measured in real time using a web-based platform. RESULTS: At the end of the evaluation of the programme the expected level of performance was achieved in three of the indicators: 'referral reliability' (standard (S) >50%, real value (RV) 92%), 'accessibility' (S >90%, RV=91%) and 'duration of first visit' (S >50%, RV=53%). The performance in the remaining indicators was inferior: 'success of referral criteria' (S >50%, RV=28%), 'clinical reports issued' (S >90%, RV=25%), 'feedback guarantee' (S >85%, RV=2%), 'missing data' (S <10%, RV=24%) and 'frequency of review' (S >90%, RV=84%). Explanations for the low performance are provided. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to implement a large-scale programme that is measurable.

Work disability in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of work disability in Spanish patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to identify factors related to it. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on data from Regisponser (National Spanish Registry of Patients with Spondyloarthropathy). Demographic and disease-related variables were collected. AS patients were classified as work-disabled according to the Spanish Social Security System criteria. Variables that discriminated between AS patients with and those without work disability were identified using chi-square test or unpaired t test when appropriate. Multiple logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: In total 699 AS patients, age 48.7 +/- SD 12.7 years and with disease duration 14.1 +/- 10.1 years, were analyzed; 179 patients (25.6%) had permanent work disability. Several variables had significantly different values in patients with compared to those without work disability. In the regression model (pseudo R(2) = 0.26, p < 0.0001), age (p = 0.001), sex (p = 0.04), disease duration (p = 0.006), total Bath AS Radiological Index (p = 0.007), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI; p = 0.007), and chest expansion (p = 0.03) retained an independent association with work disability. When BASFI was excluded from the model the independent association with sex did not remain, and a significant association with finger to floor distance was found (p = 0.040). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of permanent work disability in Spanish patients with AS is significant, and the main factors related to it are age, disease duration, structural damage, and physical functioning. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these results.

Assessment of the efficacy of joint lavage versus joint lavage plus corticoids in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

PURPOSE: Joint lavage (JL), involves the passage of cold sterile 0.9% saline through the knee joint in order to have the fluid reach the inside of the joint capsule. This technique was evaluated as a local treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee alone (JL) and in combination with intra-articular infiltration with glucocorticoids (JLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: An overall 299 knees belonging to 205 patients (22% males, 78% females) with a mean age of 67 +/- 8 years and osteoarthritis of the knee of radiological grade II or III on the Kellgren scale were randomised in the ratio of 1:4 into two therapeutic groups, namely: JL (n = 62) and JLC (n = 237). All patients received joint lavage on day 0; in those of the JLC group, joint lavage was followed by infiltration of 40 mg of triamcinolone acetonide. The efficacy of both treatments was assessed by recording the corresponding values for the following variables: pain strength as measured by a visual analogy scale (VAS), effusion, crepitation, restricted motion, of osteoarthritis of the knee. spontaneous pain, pain on pressure, pain on passive motion and pain on active motion; all of these were recorded at the onset of the study, and after 1 and 3 months. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the values of the variables at the different followup times. Also, pain severity was similar in both treatment groups. Thus, VAS for pain was 7.3 +/- 0.3 for the JL group and 7.1 +/- 0.2 for the JLC group at the onset, and decreased to 3.0 +/- 0.3 in the former and 2.8 +/- 0.2 in the latter after 1 month; the decrease was statistically significant in both cases. After 3 months, the JL and JLC groups had a VAS of 3.5 +/- 0.3 and 3.8 +/- 0.2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this work suggest the absence of significant differences between the two treatments, such that both joint lavage alone and with infiltration with corticoids can be concluded as similarly effective for the symptomatic management