The PRECISION study looks at eight chronic inflammatory diseases and several complications. These eight diseases include inflammatory conditions of the skin, joints, and bowels:

1. Skin: cutaneous inflammatory disease: psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis;
2. Joint: inflammatory arthritis: i) rheumatoid arthritis (RA); ii) systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs), which include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren’s syndrome, systemic sclerosis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and systemic vasculitis; iii) ankylosing spondylitis (AS); iv) gout; and, v) osteoarthritis (OA), a condition for which the importance of inflammation is increasingly recognized;
3. Bowel: inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD): i) Crohn’s disease; and, ii) ulcerative colitis.

The complications include cardiovascular diseases, severe infections, osteoporotic hip fractures, selected malignancies, diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Recent research has shown people with inflammatory diseases are more likely to die from these complications of the disease rather than the disease itself.

To learn more about the relationship between chronic inflammation and these complications, researchers from UBC and Arthritis Research Canada will compare people who have an inflammatory disease with people who do not. It is therefore essential for both individuals living with or without inflammatory disease to participate, as we need to compare the responses of these two groups to know the role of inflammation and their complications for patients, and all Canadians.

The PRECISION study includes a survey, either paper or online, which will ask participants about their background, health, and lifestyle activities. The survey is completed at home, whenever is convenient for you. This study does not involve any visits! In addition, this study will use information contained in the administrative databases of the BC Ministry of Health and other public bodies.

If you receive an invitation package, please consider helping us with this research! The findings of PRECISION will lead to a stronger understanding of the role of chronic inflammation across different diseases and creating potential for the development of targeted interventions that will reduce or eliminate the complications, reduce disabilities and saves lives.

Contact:

Lynn Nowoselski: lnowoselski@arthritisresearch.ca or 604-207-4034