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Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

June, 2021, Volume 36, 5, pp 28835-28840

Research Article

Research Article

Audit and Review of Ankylosing Spondylitis Management in Qatar

Abdul-Wahab Al-Allaf* and Yousef M Yahia

Author Affiliations

Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical institute, Doha

Received: June 11, 2021 | Published: June 24, 2021

Corresponding author: Abdul-Wahab Al-Allaf, Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical institute, Doha

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2021.36.005904

Abstract

Introduction: AS is a chronic inflammatory condition with a worldwide distribution. AS diagnosis and treatment are well standardized with international guidelines for its management. However, the application for these guidelines varies from country to country and even from Centre to Centre in the same country. Hence, we are auditing our AS service.

Method: Electronic medical records of AS patients attending the out-patient department for a full year were reviewed for various aspect of AS management.

Results: We audit 205 AS attended the out-patient during one year. 26% of our cohort found to have nr-asSpA with M: F ratio was 1:1 as compared to 4:1 in patients with positive X-ray. Patients’ characteristics compared with other local and international studies. There were documentation issues. All our patients tried the NSAIDs as the first line and then moved to TNF-a biologics. 56% of our cohort were on biologics and 23% for those tested for latent tuberculosis, were positive and required treatment before starting the biologics. Only 7-10% had their objective assessment of ASDAS & BASDAI at various stage of their disease.

Conclusions: In a routine clinic scenario, there are major documentation issues and discrepancies between what we should do and what is done.

Keywords: Ankylosing Spondylitis; Audit; Management; Tuberculosis; BASDAI

Introduction

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory condition and it is one of the main Spondyloarthropathy (SpA) group with a worldwide distribution [1]. The incidence is between 0.5-14 per 100,000 people per year [2,3]. Sacroiliac joints (SIJ) are the main joints involved in such patients and in some peripheral joints could be involved as well [4]. The main extra-articular manifestations of AS include anterior uveitis [5]. In the majority of the cases, the diagnosis could be delayed for a few years from the onset of its symptoms [6]. A few studies were conducted on the characteristics of AS in the Middle East [7-10].

AS diagnosis and treatment are well standardized with clear international guidelines for its management. However, the application for these guidelines varies from country to country and even from Centre to Centre in the same country. Hence, we are auditing our AS service as compared to one of the main international criteria.

We can’t find any auditing for how good we are doing for our AS patients locally in the middle east. We always find some discrepancy between the evidence-based guidelines and what is practically done with regards to various disease management including the AS. Accordingly, our primary outcome from this project is to audit how we are doing regarding AS management compared with the evidenced-based practical guidelines. We also studied some of the characteristics of AS patients in Qatar as a secondary outcome.

Methods

Electronic medical records of patients who visited Hamad General Hospital rheumatology clinic for 12 months from 1ST Jan to 31ST December 2017 were reviewed. The Diagnosis of Ankylosing spondylitis is based on positive symptomatic and radiological findings. We looked for the various aspect for AS including its characteristics, diagnosis, service, assessment and management as compared to the 2016 update of the ASAS-EULAR management recommendations for axial spondyloarthritis as our benchmark for the comparison, which is one of the main evidence-based management recommendations criteria for axial spondyloarthritis [11].

Criteria Audited are:

a) Criterion 1: Documentations issues.

b) Criterion 2: Diagnosis (X-ray, MRI, HLA-B27).

c) Criterion 3: The use of NSAIDs (as a First-line therapy).

d) Criterion 4: Biologic use, which divided into 4 subgroups.

e) Criterion 4.1: Pre biology tests for Hep B and C, QuantiFERON / PPD.

f) Criterion 4.2: Vaccination (Flue & Pneumococcal).

g) Criterion 4.3: Biology type used.

h) Criterion 4.4: Pre and Post biology assessment.

Results

A total of 205 AS patients were included during 2017. Males were 146 (70%) with a male to female’s ratio of 2.3:1. However, for those with positive X-ray the male to female ratio was 4:1 and for those with nr-as SPA, it was 1:1. The mean age was 41.5 years, and the mean age at diagnosis was 32 years, and the disease duration was 9.8 years. 117 (57%) of our cohort were Arabs with 67 of them were Egyptian and 25 were Qatari. HLA-B27 results were documented in 129 (63%) of our cohort and it was positive in 90 (70%) of them. For those 90 with the positive HLA-B27, the distribution was 63% of the Arabic patients and 37% of the non- Arabs. However, for those AS patients with uveitis, the HLA-B27 was tested in 27/38 patients, and it was present in 23/27 (85%). 144 (70%) has a SIJ X-Ray which was normal in 37 (26%) patients, all of the homes had abnormal SIJ with clear sacroiliitis on the MRI scan; nr-axSpA. MRI scan was positive for sacroiliitis in 90% of the whole cohort. Uveitis was present in 38 (18%), and peripheral joint involvement in 20%.

For those with the nr-axSpA (26%): they had a similar HLA-B27 positivity as in radiological positive patients (72% vs 70%), but these patients had a much higher peripheral joints involvement which was 45% vs only 20% of the whole cohort and affects male and female similar with the male to female ratio of 1:1 vs 4:1 for those with positive X-ray sacroiliitis. We found that there is a lack of documentation for some of the important characteristics in our cohort. The family history of AS and SpA was documented in only 14% and the age at diagnosis was documented in only 86 (42%) patients and disease duration in only 66 (32%) patients. The smoking status which is important in managing these patients was documented in only 48%.

Correct Diagnosis was secured in all our patients based on ASAS criteria (100%). All our AS patients have had a trial of two NSAIDs as per EULAR criteria (100%) and at the time of the study, 66% of all our AS cohort continued on NSAIDs. The first biologics in all our patients was Anti-TNF-a as per guidelines criteria (100%). Only 15% of all our AS patients were on DMARDs, mainly SSZ and 56% of those on DMARDs suffered from peripheral joints involvements. We found there was a significant problem with lack of the objective assessment of disease severity and activity in the majority of our patients in various stages of their disease (Table 1).

In total we founded 109 (53%) of our cohort were on biologics with Adalimumab (43%) was the most commonly used followed by Etanercept (26%) (Figure 1). Of those on biologics, 33 (30%) patients tried more than one biologic during their disease course. The most common reason for trying another biologic was related to the primary or secondary failure. Out of the 109 patients on biologics, tuberculosis screening was done/documented in only 61 (56%) patients, and almost a quarter of them (23%) were positive for latent tuberculosis and they received the required treatment (Figure 1).

Table 1:Audit criteria achievement.

Figure 1: Distribution of biological agents used during 2017 (109 patients).

Out of the 109 patients on biologics, hepatitis B and C viral screening was done/documented in only 61 (56%) patients, and this was positive in only 5% and they received the required treatment. Pre-biologic vaccinations with the pneumococcal vaccine were given/documented in only 60/109 (55%) patients and annual flu vaccine in 33/109 (30%) patients. This could be a real figure, or it could be related to those in whom the vaccine has been documented. Initial BASDAI score was done/documented in only 10% at the time of diagnosis and in only 8% pre-biologic use and only 11% in post biologic use, for ASDAS these figures 4%, 6% and 6% prospectively.

Limitations

There is a major documentation issue for various aspects of AS management. It is a retrospective study.

Discussion

Our AS patient’s characteristic as compared to our department previous study in 2015 [10] had the same age mean age at diagnosis of 32 years, lower M: F ratio of 2.3:1 vs 5.2:1, more Arabs (57% vs 40%), less positivity of HLA-B27 (70% vs 81%). Both studies had the same DMARDs of 15% with the majority receiving SSZ, and NSAIDs use (66% vs 69%). However, our biological use increased over time (3 years) from 40% to 53% in our recent study. We have slightly more uveitis patients (18% vs 14.5%) and much less peripheral arthritis (20% vs 47%) as compared with the previous study. Interestingly, and as expected, all the previous study AS patients had their BASDAI and BASFI assessment as it is part of the study protocol, but only 7% of our patients have BASDAI as part of routine clinic management.

Male predominance was observed in all the local and international studies. Our study male to female ratio was comparable to what has been found in Saudi Arabia (2.8:1) [8], and it was much lower than what has been found in Jordanian (8.1:1) [7]. For European and South American this ratio was 4.65:1 and 5.1:1, respectively [12,13]. Our peripheral joints involvement of 20% was lower as compared to other studies; 33% in Saudi Arabia [8], 34% in Jordan [7], 36.2 in Moroccan [14]. Our Uveitis figures of 18% were slightly higher as compared with other studies of 13% in Jordanians [7], 14.3 in Brazilian [13]. Uveitis figure was even much lower in Moroccans at 6.8% [14], but it was much higher (44.9%) in Iranians [15]. In systematic metanalysis uveitis reported to be present in 25.8% which was slightly higher in North America and Europe as compared to Asia and Latin America [16]. This difference in uveitis could be due to the differences in HLA-B27 prevalence in different areas.

HLA-B27 prevalence in our study of 70% was comparable to others in the region. In Saudi Arabia it was 68% [8], in Jordan 72% & 81% [7,17] and in Kuwait 82.6% [18]. However, HLA-B27 present in 90-95% of white western European AS as compared with 8% in their general population and the risk of AS developing is as high as 5% in HLA-B27 positive individuals and substantially higher 20% in HLA-B27 positive relatives of patients. However, most of HLA-B27 positive induvial remain healthy [19,20]. There is a significant delay of diagnosis of 11.4 years in those who were HLA-B27 negative as compared with 8.5 years in HLA-B27 positive patients [21]. It is difficult to compare the use of TNF-a blockers and other treatment due to the difference in when these studies have been done.

In our cohort we have found that 109 (53%) of our patients in our cohort were on biologics with Adalimumab was the most commonly used followed by Etanercept. In an audit in the UK, it has been found that 41% of their AS patients were on TNF-a blockers with Etanercept (51%) has slightly higher figures than Adalimumab (45%) and only 4% were on Infliximab [22]. The lower figures in the UK study could be explained by the restriction of biological use as per the NICE guidelines in the UK. I did a previous audit for AS patients who were on Biologics in the UK in 2010 which has been re-audited in 2013 (not published). The results from the 2013 audits were: the male to female ratio was 4:1 and HLA-B27 was present in 92%. Two BASDAI readings were done 12 weeks apart before the start of biologics in 95% of the patient as this was mandatory to assess their eligibility for biologic as per our NICE guideline [NICE guidelines on Ankylosing Spondylitis 2008 and updated on 2010, www.nice.org.uk]. 75% of that cohort were on Adalimumab, 15% on Etanercept and 10% on Infliximab. Response assessment was done in 82.5% at 12 weeks of the treatment and the remaining was after that due to non-attendance to the clinic appointment. Response reported in 83.3% (reduction of BASDAI to 50% of pre-treatment value of by 2 or more units) with 75% has adequate response and 25% inadequate response and all of them continued on the biologics and for those with primary failure, the biologics have been stopped.

When BASDAI or ASDAS is not mandatory, the uptake for these assessments was very poor routinely. We think it should be mandatory at least for those going to be on biologics for better objective assessment for response and it will guide us for amending the medications and possibly changing the biologic treatment. We feel that we need to improve our services for AS patients by better documentation for the necessary items such as history for smoking. These patients need good advising and referral for smoking cessation as an important aspect of managing these patients and which is very often missed.

Documentation issue could be helped by designing a progress note in a Prefilled electronic tick boxes format during each visit for AS and to be filled before starting biologic agent and subsequently on follow up.All our AS cases fulfil the ASAS diagnostic criteria. We achieved 100% with regards to the use of NSAIDs and biologics as compared to EULAR 2016 guidelines. Our practice was lacking for an objective assessment of the disease severity and activity. We think this is lacking for most routine day to day work clinical work. Our AS patients’ characteristic did not differ much from the local and international published figures. Management wise, also there was no difference from others. However, we have much higher positive latent tuberculosis, pointing to the importance of such screening pre-biological treatment in the Middle East.

Conclusion

Our study has the advantage of good sample size and addressing practical aspects of AS management. However, it has the limitations of being retrospective. It revealed the lack of documentation of many important aspects concerning AS management. It showed that disease activity and severity assessment has not carried out in the majority of our patients. It also highlighted the importance of doing the tuberculosis pre-biologic screening in the Middle East, as almost a quarter of our patients were found to have latent Tuberculosis and who needed to be treated before the start of the biologics. It is worth mentioning and taking into consideration that in Qatar the population is heterogeneous, and it mainly includes many other Arabs and Asians, which accounts for more than ¾ of the population. However, from the point of the audit of view, this should not affect our results.

Implications

Our study highlighted the discrepancies between what is evidenced based and what was the real-life scenarios in managing our patients with AS.

Acknowledgements

To all our consultants in the rheumatology section at Hamad Medical Institute.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Funding

None.

Availability of Data and Material

Available on a secure computer.

Authors’ Contributions

AWA has the idea, managed the progress of it at various stages, fully wrote the manuscript, YMY collected the data and analyzed under the supervision of AWA.

References

Research Article

Audit and Review of Ankylosing Spondylitis Management in Qatar

Abdul-Wahab Al-Allaf* and Yousef M Yahia

Author Affiliations

Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical institute, Doha

Received: June 11, 2021 | Published: June 24, 2021

Corresponding author: Abdul-Wahab Al-Allaf, Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical institute, Doha

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2021.36.005904

Abstract

Introduction: AS is a chronic inflammatory condition with a worldwide distribution. AS diagnosis and treatment are well standardized with international guidelines for its management. However, the application for these guidelines varies from country to country and even from Centre to Centre in the same country. Hence, we are auditing our AS service.

Method: Electronic medical records of AS patients attending the out-patient department for a full year were reviewed for various aspect of AS management.

Results: We audit 205 AS attended the out-patient during one year. 26% of our cohort found to have nr-asSpA with M: F ratio was 1:1 as compared to 4:1 in patients with positive X-ray. Patients’ characteristics compared with other local and international studies. There were documentation issues. All our patients tried the NSAIDs as the first line and then moved to TNF-a biologics. 56% of our cohort were on biologics and 23% for those tested for latent tuberculosis, were positive and required treatment before starting the biologics. Only 7-10% had their objective assessment of ASDAS & BASDAI at various stage of their disease.

Conclusions: In a routine clinic scenario, there are major documentation issues and discrepancies between what we should do and what is done.

Keywords: Ankylosing Spondylitis; Audit; Management; Tuberculosis; BASDAI