Comorbidity burden in terms of disability in patients with osteoarthritis in Mexico. The IMPACTAR registry.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the comorbidities associated with disability in patients with OA in Mexico (2013-2015). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, retrospective and multicentre IMPACTAR study (n=7703) in Mexican patients (2013-2015). Comorbidities associated with disability were identified in 4971 patients diagnosed with OA from the IMPACTAR registry (n=7073). An adjusted logistic regression analysis was carried out by demographic, economic, clinical and medical variables. RESULTS: Mean age was 63 years; and 75% of the patients were women. Subjects with OA and presence of comorbidities are 42% more likely to develop disabilities than patients without associated comorbidity, considering age, sex, family income, OA diagnosis duration, and education level. The highest rate of people with disability (28.9%) was concentrated in Region 7, which corresponds to Mexico City. There are also significant differences between median family incomes, when the income of persons with disability is under $13 000 (IQR: 9000-16 000) Mexican pesos, compared to patients without disability. Almost half of the subjects (49.6%) reported having at least one comorbidity. Arterial hypertension was the risk factor with a statistically significant difference (32.8%) among those with disability (34.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Programs and interventions for OA patients should take into consideration comorbidity factors, being female, family income, and the region of residence as variables that may increase the possibility of developing an OA-associated disability.

Comorbidity burden in terms of disability in patients with osteoarthritis in Mexico. The IMPACTAR registry / Carga de comorbilidad en términos de discapacidad en pacientes con osteoartritis en México. El registro IMPACTAR

Objective. To determine the comorbidities associated with disability in patients with OA in Mexico (2013–2015). Material and methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective and multicentre IMPACTAR study (n=7703) in Mexican patients (2013–2015). Comorbidities associated with disability were identified in 4971 patients diagnosed with OA from the IMPACTAR registry (n=7073). An adjusted logistic regression analysis was carried out by demographic, economic, clinical and medical variables. Results: Mean age was 63 years; and 75% of the patients were women. Subjects with OA and presence of comorbidities are 42% more likely to develop disabilities than patients without associated comorbidity, considering age, sex, family income, OA diagnosis duration, and education level. The highest rate of people with disability (28.9%) was concentrated in Region 7, which corresponds to Mexico City. There are also significant differences between median family incomes, when the income of persons with disability is under $13 000 (IQR: 9000–16 000) Mexican pesos, compared to patients without disability. Almost half of the subjects (49.6%) reported having at least one comorbidity. Arterial hypertension was the risk factor with a statistically significant difference (32.8%) among those with disability (34.7%). Conclusions: Programs and interventions for OA patients should take into consideration comorbidity factors, being female, family income, and the region of residence as variables that may increase the possibility of developing an OA-associated disability.(AU)

Objetivo: Determinar las comorbilidades asociadas a la incapacidad en pacientes con osteoartritis (OA) en México (2013-2015). Material y métodos: Estudio IMPACTAR transversal, retrospectivo y multicéntrico (n=7.703) en pacientes mejicanos (2013-2015). Se identificaron las comorbilidades asociadas a la incapacidad en 4.971 pacientes diagnosticados de OA en el registro IMPACTAR (n=7.073). Se realizó un análisis de regresión logística ajustada por variables demográfica, económica, clínica y médica. Resultados: La edad media fue de 63 años, y el 75% de los pacientes eran mujeres. Los sujetos con OA y la presencia de comorbilidades tienen un 42% mayor de probabilidad de desarrollar incapacidades que los pacientes sin comorbilidad asociada, considerando la edad, el sexo familia, los ingresos, la duración del diagnóstico de OA y el nivel educativo. La tasa poblacional con mayor tasa de incapacidad (28,9%) se concentró en la Región 7, que corresponde a Ciudad de México. También existieron diferencias significativas entre los ingresos familiares medios, cuando la renta de las personas con incapacidad se sitúa por debajo de los 13.000$ (RIC: 9.000-16.000) pesos mejicanos, en comparación con los pacientes sin incapacidad. Casi la mitad de los sujetos (49,6%) reportaron tener al menos una comorbilidad. La hipertensión arterial fue el factor de riesgo con diferencia estadísticamente significativa (32,8%) entre aquellas personas con incapacidad (34,7%). Conclusiones: Los programas e intervenciones para pacientes con OA deberían considerar los factores de comorbilidad tales como sexo femenino, ingresos familiares y región de residencia como variables que podrían incrementar la posibilidad de desarrollar una incapacidad asociada a OA.(AU)

Adherencia a las recomendaciones actuales de inmunización en pacientes con artritis reumatoide en México / Adherence to Current Vaccination Recommendations for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mexico

Antecedentes: Los pacientes con artritis reumatoide (AR) presentan un incremento de 2 a 4 veces del riesgo de infecciones comparado con la población general. Por esta razón existen recomendaciones sobre la aplicación de vacunas de gripe, neumococo y herpes zóster en todos los pacientes con AR, previo al inicio del tratamiento. Varios estudios han demostrado la baja prevalencia de vacunación, así como la adherencia a las recomendaciones actuales de inmunización por los reumatólogos. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el conocimiento de las recomendaciones actuales de inmunización en pacientes con AR por los reumatólogos miembros del Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología, así como identificar las barreras en su aplicación en dicha población. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal por medio de una encuesta a 577 reumatólogos de México en enero 2017. Resultados: Se obtuvieron 122 respuestas, representando el 21,14% de los 577 reumatólogos. El 50,82% respondió que recomendaba al 76-100% de sus pacientes la vacuna de la gripe, el 36,07% recomendaba al 76-100% de sus pacientes la vacuna de neumococo y con respecto a la vacuna del herpes zóster el 69,67% respondió que no la recomendaba rutinariamente a sus pacientes. Conclusiones: De acuerdo a los datos obtenidos en este estudio, no existe información adecuada acerca de la importancia de la vacunación en pacientes con AR. También muestra que el grado de adherencia a las recomendaciones de vacunación, así como el conocimiento sobre seguridad y tiempo óptimo de administración de las vacunas son bajos en México.(AU)

Background: Patients with RA have a two to four-fold increased risk of developing infections compared to the general population. For this reason, the administration of influenza, pneumococcal and shingles vaccines is recommended for all patients with RA, preferably prior to initiating treatment, Previous studies have demonstrated the low prevalence of vaccination as well as adherence to current recommendations by rheumatologists in other regions. Objective: To determine the knowledge and adherence to the current vaccination recommendations for patients with RA by rheumatology members of the Mexican College of Rheumatology (MCR), and to identify barriers to their application in this population. Methods:mA cross-sectional study was conducted through a survey sent to 577 rheumatologists from Mexico in January 2017. Results: We received completed surveys from 122 individuals, representing 21.14% of the 577 rheumatologists in our registry. Fifty percent responded that they recommended immunization against influenza to 76%-100% of their patients, 36.07% recommended immunization against pneumococcus to 76%-100% of their patients, and 69.67% of the survey responders did not recommend shingles immunization routinely to their patients. Conclusions: The data collected in this study show there is poor adherence to immunization schedules recommended for the RA population. This data suggests there is misinformation about the effectiveness, safety and optimal timing of immunization in patients with RA in Mexico.(AU)

Adherence to Current Vaccination Recommendations for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mexico. / Adherencia a las recomendaciones actuales de inmunización en pacientes con artritis reumatoide en México.

BACKGROUND: Patients with RA have a two to four-fold increased risk of developing infections compared to the general population. For this reason, the administration of influenza, pneumococcal and shingles vaccines is recommended for all patients with RA, preferably prior to initiating treatment, Previous studies have demonstrated the low prevalence of vaccination as well as adherence to current recommendations by rheumatologists in other regions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the knowledge and adherence to the current vaccination recommendations for patients with RA by rheumatology members of the Mexican College of Rheumatology (MCR), and to identify barriers to their application in this population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted through a survey sent to 577 rheumatologists from Mexico in January 2017. RESULTS: We received completed surveys from 122 individuals, representing 21.14% of the 577 rheumatologists in our registry. Fifty percent responded that they recommended immunization against influenza to 76%-100% of their patients, 36.07% recommended immunization against pneumococcus to 76%-100% of their patients, and 69.67% of the survey responders did not recommend shingles immunization routinely to their patients. CONCLUSIONS: The data collected in this study show there is poor adherence to immunization schedules recommended for the RA population. This data suggests there is misinformation about the effectiveness, safety and optimal timing of immunization in patients with RA in Mexico.

Mononeuritis Multiplex Associated With Antiphospholipid Antibodies.

In this article, we report the case of a 43-year-old male patient with mononeuritis multiplex associated with antiphospholipid antibodies. The patient had no other clinical or laboratory features of other systemic or autoimmune diseases or systemic vasculitis. He was treated with oral anticoagulant and mycophenolate mofetil, and is progressing favorably.

Comorbidity burden in terms of disability in patients with osteoarthritis in Mexico. The IMPACTAR registry.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the comorbidities associated with disability in patients with OA in Mexico (2013-2015). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, retrospective and multicentre IMPACTAR study (n=7703) in Mexican patients (2013-2015). Comorbidities associated with disability were identified in 4971 patients diagnosed with OA from the IMPACTAR registry (n=7073). An adjusted logistic regression analysis was carried out by demographic, economic, clinical and medical variables. RESULTS: Mean age was 63 years; and 75% of the patients were women. Subjects with OA and presence of comorbidities are 42% more likely to develop disabilities than patients without associated comorbidity, considering age, sex, family income, OA diagnosis duration, and education level. The highest rate of people with disability (28.9%) was concentrated in Region 7, which corresponds to Mexico City. There are also significant differences between median family incomes, when the income of persons with disability is under $13 000 (IQR: 9000-16 000) Mexican pesos, compared to patients without disability. Almost half of the subjects (49.6%) reported having at least one comorbidity. Arterial hypertension was the risk factor with a statistically significant difference (32.8%) among those with disability (34.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Programs and interventions for OA patients should take into consideration comorbidity factors, being female, family income, and the region of residence as variables that may increase the possibility of developing an OA-associated disability.

[Osteoarthrosis: implementation of current diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms]. / Osteoartrosis: implementación de los algoritmos de diagnóstico y terapéutico vigentes.

In the modern world, among the different clinical presentations of osteoarthritis, gonarthrosis and coxarthrosis exhibit the highest prevalence. In this paper, the characteristics of osteoarthritis and the different scales of assessment and classification of this pathology are exposed, to provide an exhibition of current evidence generated around diagnostic algorithms and treatment of osteoarthritis, with emphasis set out in the knee and hip, as these are the most frequent; a rational procedure for monitoring patients with osteoarthritis based on characteristic symptoms and the severity of the condition is also set. Finally, reference is made to the therapeutic benefits of the recent introduction of viscosupplementation with Hylan GF-20.

En el mundo moderno, de entre las distintas presentaciones clínicas de la osteoartrosis, la gonartrosis y la coxartrosis son las que exhiben las mayores prevalencias. En el presente artículo se enuncian los rasgos característicos de la osteoartrosis y las diferentes escalas de evaluación y clasificación de esta patología, para a continuación ofrecer una exposición de la evidencia actual generada en torno a los algoritmos de diagnóstico y terapéuticos de la osteoartrosis, con énfasis en la de rodilla y la de cadera por ser estas las de mayor frecuencia; también se establece un procedimiento racional para el seguimiento del paciente con osteoartrosis en función de la sintomatología característica y el grado de severidad del padecimiento. Finalmente, se alude a los beneficios terapéuticos de la reciente introducción de la viscosuplementación mediante Hilano GF-20.

Actualización de la Guía Mexicana para el Tratamiento Farmacológico de la Artritis Reumatoide del Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología / Update of the Mexican College of Rheumatology Guidelines for the Pharmacologic Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Antecedentes: El manejo de la artritis reumatoide ha tenido avances muy importantes en los últimos a˜nos. Las guías de práctica clínica requieren una actualización constante. Recientemente se han publicado diversas guías internacionales para el manejo farmacológico de la artritis reumatoide que difícilmente se adaptan a la realidad mexicana, en especial por la heterogénea disponibilidad de los medicamentos en las diversas instituciones del sector salud. Por ello, debido a la importancia de unificar el criterio de manejo con los tratamientos disponibles, el Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología decidió revisar las guías existentes e incorporar nueva evidencia actualizada y adaptada a la realidad del sistema de salud mexicano. Objetivo: Revisar, actualizar y adaptar la guía del manejo farmacológico de la artritis reumatoide y emitir recomendaciones adaptadas al sistema de salud de México, de acuerdo con manejos disponibles hasta diciembre de 2012. Método: Participaron en la elaboración de la guía 30 reumatólogos certificados con experiencia y juicio clínico. Las recomendaciones se basaron en niveles de evidencia de las guías de tratamiento previamente establecidas, ensayos clínicos controlados y guías estandarizadas para población adulta con artritis reumatoide. Resultados: Durante la conformación del documento, cada grupo de trabajo estableció la evidencia existente sobre los diferentes temas a tratar según su campo de mayor experiencia clínica, siendo enriquecida por la opinión de los demás expertos. Al final, toda la evidencia y las decisiones tomadas se unificaron en un manuscrito, se desarrolló un algoritmo de tratamiento y se resumieron en tablas estandarizadas por medicamento. onclusiones: La actualización de la Guía Mexicana para el Tratamiento Farmacológico de la Artritis Reumatoide integra la mejor información disponible para la toma de decisiones y contextualiza su empleo al complejo y heterogéneo sistema de salud mexicano (AU)

Background: The pharmacologic management of rheumatoid arthritis has progressed substantially over the past years. It is therefore desirable that existing information be periodically updated. There are several published international guidelines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis that hardly adapt to the Mexican health system because of its limited healthcare resources. Hence, it is imperative to unify the existing recommendations and to incorporate them to a set of clinical, updated recommendations;the Mexican College of Rheumatology developed these recommendations in order to offer an integral management approach of rheumatoid arthritis according to the resources of the Mexican health system. Objective: To review, update and improve the available evidence within clinical practice guidelines on the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis and produce a set of recommendations adapted to the Mexican health system, according to evidence available through December 2012. Methods: The working group was composed of 30 trained and experienced rheumatologists with a high quality of clinical knowledge and judgment. Recommendations were based on the highest quality evidence from the previously established treatment guidelines, meta-analysis and controlled clinical trials for the adult population with rheumatoid arthritis. Results: During the conformation of this document, each working group settled the existing evidence from he different topics according to their experience. Finally, all the evidence and decisions were unified into a single document, treatment algorithm and drug standardization tables. Conclusions: This update of the Mexican Guidelines for the Pharmacologic Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis provides the highest quality information available at the time the working group undertook this review and contextualizes its use for the complex Mexican health system (AU)

Update of the Mexican College of Rheumatology guidelines for the pharmacologic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The pharmacologic management of rheumatoid arthritis has progressed substantially over the past years. It is therefore desirable that existing information be periodically updated. There are several published international guidelines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis that hardly adapt to the Mexican health system because of its limited healthcare resources. Hence, it is imperative to unify the existing recommendations and to incorporate them to a set of clinical, updated recommendations; the Mexican College of Rheumatology developed these recommendations in order to offer an integral management approach of rheumatoid arthritis according to the resources of the Mexican health system. OBJECTIVE: To review, update and improve the available evidence within clinical practice guidelines on the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis and produce a set of recommendations adapted to the Mexican health system, according to evidence available through December 2012. METHODS: The working group was composed of 30 trained and experienced rheumatologists with a high quality of clinical knowledge and judgment. Recommendations were based on the highest quality evidence from the previously established treatment guidelines, meta-analysis and controlled clinical trials for the adult population with rheumatoid arthritis. RESULTS: During the conformation of this document, each working group settled the existing evidence from the different topics according to their experience. Finally, all the evidence and decisions were unified into a single document, treatment algorithm and drug standardization tables. CONCLUSIONS: This update of the Mexican Guidelines for the Pharmacologic Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis provides the highest quality information available at the time the working group undertook this review and contextualizes its use for the complex Mexican health system.

Biosimilar drugs in Mexico: position of the Mexican College of Rheumatology, 2012.

Biotechnological drugs (BTDs) are complex molecules whose manufacturing process precludes the ability to identically reproduce the structure of the original product, and therefore there cannot be an absolute equivalence between the original (innovative) medication and its biosimilar counterpart. BTDs have been proven useful in the treatment of several rheumatic diseases, however their high cost has prevented their use in many patients. Several BTD patents have expired or are close to expire, triggering the development of structurally similar drugs with efficacy and safety profiles comparable to the innovative compound; however, these must be evaluated through evidence based medicine. The Mexican General Health Law contemplates the registry of these biosimilar drugs for their use in our country. This document is a forethought from members of the Mexican College of Rheumatology, pharmacologists, and epidemiologists, in accordance with Mexican health authorities regarding the necessary scientific evidence required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biosimilar drugs before and after their arrival to the Mexican market.

Guidelines for the use of conventional and newer disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment strategies in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have significantly changed in the past decade. The early use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is the basis of this new treatment strategy. Because these agents alter the natural disease course of RA, early aggressive intervention results in better outcomes with respect to future structural damage and disability. The arrival of the 'biologic agents' era in rheumatology has further improved the therapeutic options in patients with RA. A significant portion of individuals with this ailment are elderly, with approximately one-third of patients experiencing their first symptoms after the age of 60 years. Yet, many elderly patients with RA do not receive optimal treatment. Although the reasons for this have not been completely defined, it seems clinicians are reluctant to use DMARDs in the elderly because of uncertainty regarding their efficacy and safety in this population. The aging process is associated with important changes in drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. It appears that the former, mainly through decreased renal clearance, is responsible for an increased incidence of adverse effects with some DMARDs. The old are also more susceptible to infection than the young, making prevention of infectious disease through vaccination of particular importance; however, healthcare professionals should be aware that some DMARDs, including biologic agents, may interfere with responses to vaccination. The available data, although limited, suggest that DMARDs, including some biologic agents, are similarly effective in the old and the young, while maintaining very good adverse effect profiles. Therefore, the elderly with RA should not be excluded from receiving optimal treatment with these medications. At the same time, clinicians must be aware of the possible increased risk of drug toxicities, recognize the need to adjust therapy to match individual patient characteristics (i.e. renal function, co-morbidities, concomitant medication use or polypharmacy), and use the lowest possible effective dosage. This review describes the special considerations to be taken into account when administering conventional (synthetic) or biologic DMARDs to elderly patients with RA.

Defective proliferative capacity and accelerated telomeric loss of hematopoietic progenitor cells in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), telomeres of lymphoid and myeloid cells are age-inappropriately shortened, suggesting excessive turnover of hematopoietic precursor cells (HPCs). The purpose of this study was to examine the functional competence (proliferative capacity, maintenance of telomeric reserve) of CD34+ HPCs in RA. METHODS: Frequencies of peripheral blood CD34+,CD45+ HPCs from 63 rheumatoid factor-positive RA patients and 48 controls matched for age, sex, and ethnicity were measured by flow cytometry. Proliferative burst, cell cycle dynamics, and induction of lineage-restricted receptors were tested in purified CD34+ HPCs after stimulation with early hematopoietins. Telomere sequences were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. HPC functions were correlated with the duration, activity, and severity of RA as well as its treatment. RESULTS: In healthy donors, CD34+ HPCs accounted for 0.05% of nucleated cells; their numbers were strictly age dependent and declined at a rate of 1.3% per year. In RA patients, CD34+ HPC frequencies were age-independently reduced to 0.03%. Upon growth factor stimulation, control HPCs passed through 5 replication cycles over 4 days. In contrast, RA-derived HPCs completed only 3 generations. Telomeres of RA CD34+ HPCs were age-inappropriately shortened by 1,600 bp. All HPC defects were independent of disease duration, disease activity, and smoking status, and were present to the same degree in untreated patients. CONCLUSION: In RA, circulating bone marrow-derived progenitor cells were diminished, and concentrations stagnated at levels typical of those in old control subjects. HPCs from RA patients displayed growth factor nonresponsiveness and sluggish cell cycle progression; marked telomere shortening indicated proliferative stress-induced senescence. Defective HPC function independent of disease activity markers suggests bone marrow failure as a potential pathogenic factor in RA.

Treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases with biologic agents: opportunities and risks for the elderly.

The treatment armamentarium in rheumatic inflammatory diseases has drastically increased in the last years. Earlier uses of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), along with the arrival of newer therapies including the so-called "biologic" agents, have provided better long-term outcomes for patients suffering from these illnesses. Biologic agents have shown efficacy for several diseases and failed in others. Due to a high prevalence of some of these diseases in the elderly population, this age group may also benefit, although treatment will have to be tailored to its special needs. In this mini review, we will discuss the use of these medications in rheumatic diseases with a significant prevalence in the elderly, their proven and potential uses, and the considerations that need to be taken into account when using them in this population.

Bisphosphonate-associated arthritis.

We present a case of arthritis apparently induced by the administration of intravenous bisphosphonates in a 51-year-old white woman with metastatic breast carcinoma. She presented with bilateral knee pain and effusions on 2 separate occasions after receiving aminobisphosphonates. Synovial fluid analysis was negative for infection, metastasis, or crystals. Her symptoms resolved after the medication was discontinued and recurred after the patient was rechallenged with a medication from the same drug class. The administration of aminobisphosphonates has been associated with an acute-phase response in several in vivo studies. The mechanism of action is thought to be that aminobisphosphonates transiently stimulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Rheumatologists should be aware of this possible cause of arthropathy.

The ever-expanding association between rheumatologic diseases and tuberculosis.

We summarized most of the rheumatologic manifestations of tuberculosis (TB) and the occurrence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis disease associated with rheumatologic diseases. We established 4 different categories: (1) direct musculoskeletal involvement of M. tuberculosis, including spondylitis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and tenosynovitis; (2) M. tuberculosis as an infectious pathogen in rheumatologic diseases, particularly with the use of newer agents such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors; (3) antimycobacterial drug-induced rheumatologic syndromes, including tendinopathy, drug-induced lupus, and others; and (4) reactive immunologic phenomena caused by TB, such as reactive arthritis, erythema nodosum, and others. In addition, Bacille-Calmette-Guérin vaccination used for the prevention of TB or as a chemotherapeutic agent for bladder carcinoma also may be associated with musculoskeletal adverse events. We conclude that M. tuberculosis can directly or indirectly affect the musculoskeletal system.