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Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Through HR-pQCT Imaging Analysis
Published on: October 6, 2023
A population-based analysis of rheumatology care patterns for inflammatory arthritis during COVID-19 in Alberta,
Claire E H Barber1, Brendan Cord Lethebe2, Jessie Hart Szostakiwskyj2
1Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Arthritis Research Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on inflammatory arthritis (IA) rheumatology care in Alberta, Canada.
Methods:
We used linked provincial health administrative datasets to establish an incident cohort of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) seen at least once by a rheumatologist. We examined incidence rates (IR) per 100,000 population, and patterns of follow-up care between 2011 and 2022. In a subset of individuals diagnosed five years prior to the pandemic, we report on those lost to follow-up during the pandemic, and those with virtual care visits followed by in-person visit within 30 days. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine patient characteristics associated with these patterns of care.
Results:
The IR for RA in 2020 declined compared to previous years (44.6), but not for AS (9.2) or PsA (9.1). In 2021 IRs rose (RA 49.5; AS 11.8; PsA 11.8). Among those diagnosed within 5 years of the pandemic, 632 (6.0 %) were lost to follow-up, with characteristics of those lost to follow-up differing between IA types. 1444 individuals had at least one virtual visit followed within 30 days by an in-person follow-up. This was less common in males (OR 0.69-0.79) and more common for those with a higher frequency of physician visits prior to the pandemic (OR 1.27-1.32).
Conclusion:
Impacts of patterns of care during the pandemic should be further explored for healthcare planning to uphold optimal care access and promote effective use of virtual care.
