EN | TR
E-ISSN: 2651-2661 ISSN: 2651-2653
Frequency of lost to follow-up of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis patients in a tertiary center
PDF
Cite
Share
Request
Original Article
VOLUME: 12 ISSUE: 1
P: 7-11
April 2020

Frequency of lost to follow-up of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis patients in a tertiary center

J Turk Soc Rheumatol 2020;12(1):7-11
DOI: 10.4274/raed.galenos.2020.52724
Sinem Nihal Esatoğlu 1
Fatih Çelik 2
Merve Yeşilsancak 2
Fatma Doymaz 2
Serdal Uğurlu 1
1. İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Tıp Fakültesi, İç Hastalıkları Ana Bilim Dalı, Romatoloji Bilim Dalı, İstanbul, Türkiye
2. İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Tıp Fakültesi, İstanbul, Türkiye
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 30.12.2019
Accepted Date: 04.02.2020
Publish Date: 06.05.2020
PDF
Cite
Share
Request

ABSTRACT

Objective:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are one of the most common rheumatologic diseases. Physical disability can be prevented by controlling disease activity. For this purpose, patients need to attend regular follow-up appointments. We aimed to determine the frequency of lost-to follow-up in RA and AS patients and to find out the magnitude of this problem.

Methods:

Patients who were diagnosed as RA and AS in 2010 were included. Patients files were reviewed and patients who did not attend the follow-up appointments were called. After verbal consent was obtained, reasons for not coming back to the appointment were noted.

Results:

There were 314 RA and 191 AS patients. The frequencies of the regular follow-up were 44% in RA and 43% in AS patients. 32% of RA and 30% of AS patients could not be contacted. Among the patients who were lost-to-follow-up, 72% of RA and 70% of AS patients had only one visit. The most common reason of nonadherence with recommended follow-up visit was being followedup in another center for RA (65%) and having no complaints for AS patients (54%).

Conclusion:

Although approximately 40% of AS and RA patients were lost to follow-up at the end of 8 years, a significant proportion of these patients have been following in other centers. The presence of patients who did not come to follow-up due to the absence of complaint indicates that patients should be informed about the importance of regular follow-up.

References

1Onen F, Akar S, Birlik M, Sari I, Khan MA, Gurler O, et al. Prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis and related spondyloarthritides in an urban area of izmir, turkey. J Rheumatol 2008;35:305-9.
2Maksymowych WP, Brown MA. Genetics of ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis: Where are we at currently, and how do they compare? Clin Exp Rheumatol 2009;27:S20-5.
3Jacobs P, Bissonnette R, Guenther LC. Socioeconomic burden of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases--focusing on work productivity and disability. J Rheumatol Suppl 2011;88:55-61.
4Kobelt G, Lindgren P, Lindroth Y, Jacobson L, Eberhardt K. Modelling the effect of function and disease activity on costs and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2005;44:1169-75.
5Akkoc N, Direskeneli H, Erdem H, Gul A, Kabasakal Y, Kiraz S, et al. Direct and indirect costs associated with ankylosing spondylitis and related disease activity scores in turkey. Rheumatol Int 2015;35:1473-8.
6Hamuryudan V, Direskeneli H, Ertenli I, Inanc M, Karaaslan Y, Oksel F, et al. Direct and indirect healthcare costs of rheumatoid arthritis patients in turkey. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2016;34:1033-7.
7Pincus T, Braun J, Kavanaugh A, Smolen JS. Possible discontinuation of therapies in inflammatory rheumatic diseases - as with initiation of therapies, a shared decision between patient and rheumatologist. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2013;31:S1-3.
8Van Cutsem G, Ford N, Hildebrand K, Goemaere E, Mathee S, Abrahams M, et al. Correcting for mortality among patients lost to follow up on antiretroviral therapy in south africa: A cohort analysis. PLoS One 2011;6:e14684.
9Osterberg L, Blaschke T. Adherence to medication. N Engl J Med 2005;353:487-97.
10Glave-Testino C, Cardiel MH, Arce-Salinas A, Alarcon-Segovia D. Factors associated with disease severity in mexican patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1994;12:589-94.
11Uribe AG, Ho KT, Agee B, McGwin G, Jr., Fessler BJ, Bastian HM, et al. Relationship between adherence to study and clinic visits in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: Data from the lumina cohort. Lupus 2004;13:561-8.
12Tien YC, Chiu YM, Liu MP. Frequency of lost to follow-up and associated factors for patients with rheumatic diseases. PLoS One 2016;11:e0150816.
13Bertoli AM, Fernandez M, Calvo-Alen J, Vila LM, Sanchez ML, Reveille JD, et al. Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic u.S. Cohort (lumina) xxxi: Factors associated with patients being lost to follow-up. Lupus 2006;15:19-25.
14Uribe AG, Alarcon GS, Sanchez ML, McGwin G, Jr., Sandoval R, Fessler BJ, et al. Systemic lupus erythematosus in three ethnic groups. Xviii. Factors predictive of poor compliance with study visits. Arthritis Rheum 2004;51:258-63.
15Foocharoen C, Yenrom P, Mahakkanukrauh A, Suwannaroj S, Nanagara R. Prevalence and causes of loss to follow-up among patients with systemic sclerosis. J Clin Rheumatol 2014;20:456.
16Balkhy HH, El-Saed A, Sanai FM, Alqahtani M, Alonaizi M, Niazy N, et al. Magnitude and causes of loss to follow-up among patients with viral hepatitis at a tertiary care hospital in saudi arabia. J Infect Public Health 2017;10:379-87.
17Thorneloe RJ, Bundy C, Griffiths CE, Ashcroft DM, Cordingley L. Adherence to medication in patients with psoriasis: A systematic literature review. Br J Dermatol 2013;168:20-31.
Article is only available in PDF format. Show PDF
2024 ©️ Galenos Publishing House