Arthritis Research Canada at EULAR 2023

The EULAR European Congress of Rheumatology is the primary platform for exchange of scientific and clinical information in Europe. It seeks to provide a forum of the highest standard for scientific, educational and social exchange between professionals involved in rheumatology. It also incorporates liaising with patient organizations in order to achieve progress in the clinical care of people with rheumatic diseases. The EULAR Congress attracts more than 18,000 delegates from over 130 countries and takes place in a major European city. This year, the EULAR Congress takes place in Milan between May 31 and June 3. However, people can also attend the event virtually.

To learn about Arthritis Research Canada research presented at the EULAR European Congress of Rheumatology (Day 3), please scroll down.

Trajectories of Antimalarial Adherence among Newly Diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients: A Population-based Cohort Study

This study of everyone in British Columbia taking hydroxychloroquine for either lupus or rheumatoid arthritis identified four distinct patterns of adherence to this medication. Less than half (47%) took it consistently over the first year, 18% stayed on the drug but took it inconsistently, about one in 5 person stopped the drug rapidly (within 3 months), and 16% stopped it within 8 months. This study can’t tell why people stopped. People with more active disease, seeing a rheumatologist, who were older, were more likely to take the medication as prescribed.

Research Team: Hoque R, Avina-Zubieta JA, Lacaille D, De Vera M, Qian Y, McCandless L, Esdaile JM, Xie H.

 

Risk of incident gout associated with initiation of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors versus other second-line agents among metformin users with type 2 diabetes

Many people have both type 2 diabetes and gout. We used data from the BC Ministry of Health to compare people with type 2 diabetes as they started different types of glucose-lowering medications and found one type, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, was associated with a lower risk of developing gout.

Research Team: Yokose C, McCormick N, Lu N, Wei J, Zhang Y, Choi HK.

Patterns of patient-reported symptoms in systemic sclerosis: a scleroderma patient-centered intervention network (SPIN) cohort study

This study captured which symptoms commonly occur together in systemic sclerosis and identified a group of people who appear to have more resilience to the negative mental health impact of the disease.  This study helps to better understand the characteristics of people with systemic sclerosis who are highly resilient and will facilitate the implementation of interventions to better manage patient-reported symptoms and improve overall quality of life.

Research Team:  Wojeck R., Knisely M., Bailey D., Somers T., Kwakkenbos L., Carrier M. E., Nielson W., Bartlett S. J., Malcarne V., Hudson, B. Levis, A. Benedetti, L. Mouthon, B.

 

Lived educational experience of young adults with childhood- and adult-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a multi-center Canadian qualitative study

 This qualitative study described the lived educational experience of young adults with lupus.  Lupus affected students’ performance at school through physical symptoms, fatigue and difficulty with cognitive tasks. Ongoing social and school supports were helpful to support them. Maintaining remote learning options that became available during COVID may increase accessibility for them. These results identified opportunities for developing future supportive interventions for young adults with lupus in their schooling which would better prepare them for future employment.

Research Team:  Golding M., Nishat F. ,Merrill K., Kaur R. , Stinson J.,Protudjer J., Woodgate R., Peschken C. , Lacaille D. ,  Oguzoglo U., Touma Z., Lim L. 

Effect modification of cancer on the association between dysphagia and mortality in early idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

This qualitative study described the lived educational experience of young adults with lupus.  Lupus affected students’ performance at school through physical symptoms, fatigue and difficulty with cognitive tasks. Ongoing social and school supports were helpful to support them. Maintaining remote learning options that became available during COVID may increase accessibility for them. These results identified opportunities for developing future supportive interventions for young adults with lupus in their schooling which would better prepare them for future employment.

Research Team: Leclair  V.,  Holmqvist M., Notarnicola A., Krysturfkova O., Mann H., Andersson H., Diederichsen L. P., Vencovský J., Lundberg I. E., Steele R., Hudson M.

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