Canadian Rheumatologists' Perspectives on Moderate Psoriatic Arthritis and Oligoarticular Psoriatic Arthritis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Immunology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) significantly impacts patient quality of life.
• Clinical research often prioritizes polyarticular PsA, leaving gaps in understanding oligoarticular and moderate PsA assessment and management.
• Canadian rheumatologists' perspectives on defining and treating these PsA subtypes are not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Canadian rheumatologists' current practices and perspectives on defining and managing oligoarticular and moderate psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
• To identify challenges faced by rheumatologists in assessing and treating patients with less severe or limited joint involvement in PsA.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to Canadian rheumatologists specializing in PsA treatment.
• Survey questions were developed in consultation with a committee of expert Canadian rheumatologists.
• Data from 64 responding rheumatologists across 6 provinces were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The majority of rheumatologists utilize swollen joint count (SJC) to characterize both moderate PsA (86.4%) and oligoarticular PsA (96.7%).
• A lack of consensus exists regarding SJC cutoff scores for defining moderate PsA.
• Sixty-eight percent of respondents identified treatment access as a primary challenge for patients with oligoarticular PsA.

Conclusions:

• Swollen joint count (SJC) remains a crucial metric for rheumatologists in defining oligoarticular and moderate psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
• Disease assessment for moderate PsA involves considering joint location and functional impairment alongside joint count.
• Limited access to effective treatments poses a significant barrier for PsA patients with fewer than five affected joints.