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Outcome Measures in Polymyalgia Rheumatica. A Systematic Review
Cátia Duarte1, Ricardo Jorge de Oliveira Ferreira2, Sarah Louise Mackie2
1From the Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE, Coimbra; Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra; and Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA:E), Coimbra, Portugal; Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine and NIHR-Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; and Academic Rheumatology Unit, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK.C. Duarte, MD, Rheumatology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE; and Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra; R.J.O. Ferreira, RN, MSc, Rheumatology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE; and Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA:E); S.L. Mackie, BM, BCh, PhD, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine and NIHR-Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, University of Leeds; J.R. Kirwan, PhD, University of Bristol, Academic Rheumatology Unit, Bristol Royal Infirmary; J.A. Pereira da Silva, PhD, Rheumatology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE; and Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra. catiacmduarte@gmail.com.
This review found many different ways to measure polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) outcomes in studies. A standardized set of validated outcome measures for PMR is needed.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Clinical Research Methodology
Background:
- Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) assessment lacks standardized outcome measures.
- Variability in outcome assessment hinders comparative analysis of PMR studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically identify and categorize instruments used to assess PMR in published literature.
- To inform the development of standardized outcome measures for PMR research.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of PMR studies (1970-2014).
- Extraction and categorization of outcome and assessment instruments.
- Categorization based on OMERACT (Outcome Measures in Rheumatology) Filter 2.0 domains.
Main Results:
- 35 articles (3221 patients) were reviewed.
- 29 distinct instruments measured over 20 domains.
- Commonly used measures included pain, stiffness, global assessments, ESR, and CRP.
- Significant variation in outcome definitions was observed.
Conclusions:
- The current landscape of PMR outcome measures is diverse and inconsistently defined.
- There is a critical need for a core set of validated and standardized outcome measurements for PMR.
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