PCR: Prevalence, Cost, & Risk (6.27.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from last week on RheumNow.com
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HLA-B27 Testing in Practice
A single center study shows HLA-B27 testing is often performed by both by rheumatologists and nonrheumatologists for a wide array of reasons and often along with other serologic tests. Optimal use of HLA-B27 testing has yet to be defined.
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Increasing costs of biologics. X-sectional study of 76 781 psoriasis pts on biologics (TNFi, IL12/23, IL-17i, IL-23i) saw annual treatment cost increase from $21 236 in 2007 to $47 125 in 2021. AVG cost could have been 44% lower if lowest-cost Rx in same class was used https://t.co/IOaK75zsgg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Simple Measures are Effective in Knee Osteoarthritis
EurekAlert!
Knee braces, water therapy and exercise are the most promising non-drug therapies for treating knee osteoarthritis, according to a new meta-analysis publishing June 18, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Yuan Luo of the First People’s Hospital of Neijiang, China.
Knee
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Rheumatoid arthritis incidence has risen to 17.9 million people globally -13.2% increase from 1990-2021. Fewer people are dying from RA, but disability-adjusted life Yrs have doubled. high sociodemographic index bore the heaviest burden. Smoking control policies is forecasted to https://t.co/YmWcinVdmE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Multinational metanalyses of 24 studies & 1,173,410 participants shows alcohol increases risk of hyperuricemia (OR 1.51) and gout (OR 1.81) - more so in males > females. Little effect of age, country, study type, type of alcohol, Dx criteria in regression analyses. https://t.co/NSYTppcKzV
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Nurse-Led Treat-to-Target Clinics
EurekAlert!
New studies shared at the 2025 annual EULAR congress in Barcelona highlight the benefits that nurse-led care can bring for both patients and healthcare systems.
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Health inequities in rheumatology: A central theme
This year at EULAR, health inequalities have taken centre stage as fundamental drivers of outcomes in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). Across multiple sessions and studies, delegates are presenting compelling https://t.co/nmdyJYQV0B
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Why do Rheumatologists shift to private practice? Are there gender based differences?
A survey of 100+ European rheumatologists
Female 🚺 rheumatologists:
Leave hospital earlier
At a lower hierarchical level
Reasons for leaving:
nightshifts
unfair promotion decisions
Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Social disparities in rheumatology @RheumNow #EULAR2025
~70% of outcomes are determined by Social determinants of health
Modifiable factors ? Maybe? https://t.co/UfC2nQ5Azy
Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
@RheumNow Achieving health equity is the goal
1.4% of GDP is lost in health inequity in EU https://t.co/50M4SfuxvX
Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
How much of the health outcomes are related to social determinants?
🔺️Up to 75%!
Disaster Medicine Session
Social disparities and impact on outcomes
Dr Kate Webb
#EULAR2025
@RheumNow https://t.co/0Ahbf79Nbx
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
What do we know about disparities in #SLE
- worse in women
- worse in non white populations
- have lower quality of care in vulnerable populations
- have worse outcomes in vulnerable populations
#EULAR2025 @rheumnow
Diagnosis itself is difficult in communities with poor access https://t.co/pcUaJ0eK65
Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
#Lupus is one of the biggest social discriminators
🔺️Higher prevalence in Women
🔺️Higher prevalence in Non-Whites
🔺️More catastrophic manifestations in low socioeconomic groups
Disaster Medicine Session
Social disparities and impact on outcomes
#EULAR2025
@RheumNow https://t.co/mewR9NzXHt
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )
Delay hurts.
Dx delay in axial SpA costs UK £3.1 billion annually.
Avg time to dx = 8.5 yrs
Avg dx cost = £187k/person
Fixing delay could save £167k/person.
Early Dx isn’t just better care—it’s economic policy.
#EULAR2025 @RheumNow
#AxialSpA #RMD https://t.co/eYEQ2rp94m
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
Social Determinants of Health in SLE
EurekAlert!
Social determinants of health (SDH), such as socioeconomic status and educational background are factors that are increasingly recognised as critical contributors to health outcomes in chronic diseases. Understanding how certain factors impact different RMDs is important, and new research
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Premature death in RA still exists, and varies according to race/ethnicity demographic groups
Nationwide US CDC's MCoD database analysis
-Mortality rates
11x higher American Indians
3x higher Black or African American people
-Median age at death with RA
9-10 years younger https://t.co/FTRWPk7Wz0
Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
EULAR 2025 - Day 1 Report
Wednesday was Day One at EULAR 2025 in Barcelona. Thousands from around the world gathered, eager to reunite at this international educational forum. Below are a few of my favorites from Day 1.
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Access inequity across Europe is real.
New #RheumaFacts data show major gaps in RMD care:
🔹 Full tsDMARD access in just 4% of countries
🔹 Self-referral possible in 57%
🔹 Rheum physio reimbursed in 63%
🔹 Psych care? Only 30%.
Abstract#OP0025
@RheumNow #EULAR2025
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
Debuting Fishbowl sessions at #EULAR2025 🔄💊
Lively audience engaging session in A1 on how drug prices influence treatment decisions; real-world tensions between cost, access, & physician autonomy. Transparent, interactive, and packed!
@RheumNow | Location: A1 | #EULAR2025 https://t.co/jVbviLuTZK
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
2025 EULAR/ACR Risk Stratification Criteria for At-Risk Arthralgia
A collaborative EULAR/ACR expert panel has established criteria for arthralgia patients at risk (clinically suspect arthralgia) to progress to chronic rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Risk stratification of CSA patients may be instrumental in
MTX Fails Knee OA (6.6.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com
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HLA-B27 Testing in Practice
Analysis of testing for human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) in a teaching center shows HLA-B27 testing was frequently performed by rheumatologists and nonrheumatologists for a broad spectrum of indications and primarily as a screening test.
Data
Denosumab and Osteoporosis - A JAMA Review
An overview of denosumab use in osteoporosis (OP) by Bauer and Ensrud was published in JAMA.
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Moneyball Rheumatology (5.30.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the book/movie, "Moneyball" and a suggests moneyball strategy is needed to find next level responses for our patients.
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The advantage to patient care without the crutch of an EHR. What do you do?
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