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How Online Searches Reveal Patient Needs
Managing health conditions is rapidly evolving as patients increasingly turn to online resources for answers—over 65% search for health-related questions online. Our study analyzed Google search trends for rheumatic disease topics, offering a fascinating glimpse into how online search behavior can reveal patient needs and experiences. This approach, known as "infodemiology," tracks real-time Google Trends data to understand symptom- and treatment-related searches for rheumatic conditions.
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Improving the Value of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatology Care
Unlike traditional imaging techniques, MSUS can be easily used at the point-of-care and offers high-resolution images of joints, tendons, and soft tissues, facilitating the early detection of inflammation and structural damage. On Saturday, November 16th at the ACR Convergence 2024, Dr. Veena Ranganath, Dr. Gurjit Kaeley, and Dr. Catherine Bakewell will present the “Proposed ACR Guidance for Use of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis.” This is the first update in a decade since the 2012 ACR guidance on the reasonable use of MSUS in rheumatology clinical practice.
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ACR 2024 - Featured Industry Presentations
ACR24 Begins today. Many of the great presentations for this meeting come from industry sponsored clinical trials and reports. Often these become the pivotal studies for regulatory approval and the annual congresses are their first look.
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#0456📱 Digital Health & RA ePROs
💻Rx response in 150 RA patients using ePROs & actigraphy
🔍Actigraphy slightly improved accuracy (86% precision, 83% v. 75% recall with ePROs alone)
💡Passive actigraphy can help classify response &⬇️ ePROs, patient burden.
#ACR24 @RheumNow
Caoilfhionn Connolly CaoilfhionnMD ( View Tweet)
#0477 🌍 Global prevalence of RA-ILD
➡️21.38% (95% CI 0.15 - 0.29),33 studies, n=14,281
🔬 Higher RA-ILD risk in smokers, low-income regions, DMARD use.
⛔️Wide CI = heterogeneity main limitation
💡 Screening & lifestyle changes key for high-risk groups.
#ACR24 @RheumNow
Caoilfhionn Connolly CaoilfhionnMD ( View Tweet)
#0501
💥 JAKi & TNFi show faster short-term RA improvement (3months) compared to IL-6i & ABA
➡️n=9590(3049 JAKi, 4606 TNFi, 1284 IL-6, 651 ABA), 14 registers
🕒 JAKi, TNFi improved CDAI, pain, function in 1st two months then stabilised
💡Long-term data needed #ACR24 @RheumNow https://t.co/4yzeAAkGjq
Caoilfhionn Connolly CaoilfhionnMD ( View Tweet)
Which immunomodulators dampen recombinant zoster vaccine immunogenicity?
In this 🇧🇷 study in autoimmune dx patients, overrepresented in non-responders are:
- rituximab pts
- 'combined therapy'
strategies needed for them
but reassuring for the others!
#ACR24 ABST0248 @RheumNow https://t.co/he1ICa9WZg
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
#Frailty leads to poor outcomes and occurs earlier in RA patients. Different tools measure frailty as a phenotype vs. deficit accumulation.
Discover the role of frailty in ED from #LancetRheum Ageing Series by Drs. Sarah Lieber and @KWyshamMD !
#ACR24 @RheumNow ABST#1334 https://t.co/25XQBDQMCo
Jiha Lee JihaRheum ( View Tweet)
Poster#0035
🚨Postpartum RA Risk & Mucosal Immunity
👩🍼Elevated anti-CCP-IgG in cervicovaginal fluid of postpartum women (n=25) vs. controls.
🧪Local anti-CCP production despite negative serum
❓Childbirth-associated mucosal inflammation may drive RA onset.
#ACR24 @RheumNow https://t.co/plvtyJDSY1
Caoilfhionn Connolly CaoilfhionnMD ( View Tweet)
Mycophenolate isn't great for vaccine immunogenicity, but withholding MMF for one week after both doses of recombinant zoster vaccine boosts Ab titres ++ in this Brazilian RCT.
A week off post-vaccine: definitely worth considering in stable disease
#ACR24 ABST0247 @RheumNow https://t.co/lajS5DzRbD
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
It's been a wild ride over the last 20 years of RA b/tsDMARDs, and fascinating to see how our prescribing habits have changed over that time.
MarketScan data tell a story of fashion and fame. What will the next 20 years be like?
#ACR24 ABST0509 @jeffsparks @RheumNow https://t.co/wCcWgkHrvc
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
#ACR24 Ab#0771
ARID5B - transcription factor controls pathologic inflammatory fibroblast
ARID5B: RA risk locus on GWAS, also link to SLE, Graves
Binds to histone editors to epigenetically regulate fibroblast state
ARID5B deletion incr inflamm response, overexpr decr
@RheumNow https://t.co/ebKnX1uTuO
Eric Dein ericdeinmd ( View Tweet)
#0509
📊 RA DMARD Trends in US (2001-2021)
🧑🤝🧑 407,728 DMARD starts in 229,365 patients
📉 csDMARD use fell (79.7% → 54.7%)
‼️Methotrexate dropped 29% → 15%
📈 bDMARDs (20.3% →33.1%),tsDMARDs (0.1% → 12.2%) both ⬆️⬆️
💊Biosimilar uptake low
#ACR24 @RheumNow @jeffsparks https://t.co/JepaWj7azY
Caoilfhionn Connolly CaoilfhionnMD ( View Tweet)
The Plants for Joints RA continuation made it to #ACR24!
whole-food plant-based diet, exercise, sleep/stress Rx
(added on to usual RA care i.e. DMARDs)
Gains made during program were sustained,
can't undersell lifestyle as part of the overall picture!
#ACR24 ABST0530 @RheumNow https://t.co/XSLIwYitpH https://t.co/RfiTX8Z6ff
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
The Plants for Joints RA continuation made it to #ACR24!
whole-food plant-based diet, exercise, sleep/stress Rx
(added on to usual RA care i.e. DMARDs)
Gains made during program were sustained,
can't undersell lifestyle as part of the overall picture!
#ACR24 ABST0530 @RheumNow https://t.co/XSLIwYitpH https://t.co/RfiTX8Z6ff
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
Seronegative RA: sometimes there's an assumption that they'll eventually get a 'real' diagnosis
at @MayoClinic, 85% of patients diagnosed with seronegative RA kept their diagnosis at 10 years.
Usually, seroneg RA means seroneg RA!
#ACR24 @MyasoedovaElena ABST0458 @RheumNow https://t.co/hErZVfs08k
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
Real-world data from @k_lauper's Jak-pot study (>9000 RA pt) on how quickly b/tsDMARDs work:
JAKi, TNFi quicker than tocilizumab, abatacept
Even though they all get to a similar place eventually, some get there quicker
(but worth any safety tradeoffs?)
#ACR24 ABST0501 @RheumNow https://t.co/YVpTBMe3gi
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
Like we've seen in many parts of the world, RA prescribing in Germany is moving away from JAKi, in response to regulatory safety warnings.
Whether all of this is appropriate or not, we'll have to see...
#ACR24 ABST0503 @RheumNow https://t.co/VSqdCz6zc5
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
Synovial fibroblast gene expression
Neutron-4 - plays role in axonal outgrowth, affects pain-sensitive neurons
May help explain pain in RA, possible targets
Year in Review #ACR24 Bridges
@RheumNow https://t.co/kpDVKh0C9O
Eric Dein ericdeinmd ( View Tweet)
Amazing review @NamrataRheum on the important role the rheumatologist can play to improve the care of our older patients!
Don’t forget the 5Ms!
🧠Mind (cog/mood)
💊Medication (PIM)
🏃♀️Mobility
👉Multi-complexity
💪🏻Matters most (pt priority)
@RheumNow #ACR24 #gerirheum https://t.co/0Iv4TdS8AX
Patricia Harkins DrTrishHarkins ( View Tweet)