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Purpose of Review Scientific research in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) has grown significantly. Nevertheless, the patient perspective remains insufficiently explored. Using a cross-sectional survey, the European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (EMAS) describes how patients living with self-reported axSpA experience their disease physically, psychologically, and socially. Recent Findings 2846 patients participated: mean age 43.9 ± 12.3 years, 61.3% female, mean disease duration was 17.2 ± 12.4 years, and 71.3% were HLA-B27 positive. Mean diagnostic delay was 7.4 ± 8.4 years. Mean BASDAI score was 5.5 ± 2.0 and 75.7% reported moderate/severe spinal stiffness throughout the day. Daily life was substantially impaired: 74.1% reported difficulties finding a job due to the disease, and 61.5% reported psychological distress. Summary EMAS results showed long diagnostic delay and substantial physical and psychological burden, indicating important unmet needs for patients. Furthermore, axSpA restricted patients’ ability to participate in their daily routine and lead a productive work life. Understanding the patient’s perspective can improve both health outcomes and shared decision-making between patient and rheumatologist.

AimTo assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).MethodsREUMAVID is a cross-sectional study using an online survey developed by an international multidisciplinary patient-led collaboration across seven European countries targeting unselected patients with RMDs. Healthcare access, daily activities, disease activity and function, well-being (WHO Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5)), health status, anxiety/depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)) and access to information were evaluated. Data were collected in April–July 2020 (first phase).ResultsData from the first phase included 1800 patients with 15 different RMDs (37.2% axial spondyloarthritis, 29.2% rheumatoid arthritis, 17.2% osteoarthritis and others). Mean age was 53, 80% female and 49% had undertaken university studies. During the beginning of the pandemic, 58.4% had their rheumatology appointment cancelled and 45.6% reported not having received any information relating to the possible impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in their RMDs, with the main source being patient organisations (27.6%).Regarding habits, 24.6% increased smoking, 18.2% raised their alcohol consumption, and 45.6% were unable to continue exercising. Self-reported disease activity was high (5.3±2.7) and 75.6% reported elevated pain. Half the patients (49.0%) reported poor well-being (WHO-5) and 46.6% that their health had changed for the worse during lockdown. According to HADS, 57.3% were at risk of anxiety and 45.9% of depression.ConclusionThroughout the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with RMDs have experienced disruption in access to healthcare services, poor lifestyle habits and negative effects on their overall health, well-being and mental health. Furthermore, information on COVID-19 has not reached patients appropriately.

In Spain, despite the existence of a National Health System (NHS), the utilization of some curative health services is related to social class. This study assesses (1) whether these inequalities are also observed for preventive health services and (2) the role of additional private health insurance for people of advantaged social classes. Using data from the Spanish National Health Survey of 2006, the authors analyze the relationships between social class and use of health services by means of Poisson regression models with robust variance, controlling for self-assessed health. Similar analyses were performed for waiting times for visits to a general practitioner (GP) and specialist. After controlling for self-perceived health, men and women from social classes IV-V had a higher probability of visiting the GP than other social classes, but a lower probability of visiting a specialist or dentist. No large class differences were observed in frequency of hospitalization or emergency services use, or in breast cancer screening or influenza vaccination; cervical cancer screening frequency was lower among women from social classes IV-V. The inequalities in specialist visits, dentist visits, and cervical cancer screening were larger among people with only NHS insurance than those with double health insurance. Social class differences in waiting times were observed for specialist visits, but not for GP visits. Men and women from social classes IV-V had longer waits for a specialist; this was most marked among people with only NHS insurance. Clearly, within the NHS, social class inequalities are still evident for some curative and preventive services. Further research is needed to identify the factors driving these inequalities and to tackle these factors from within the NHS. Priority areas include specialist services, dental care, and cervical cancer screening.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) are both chronic, inflammatory conditions that result in a substantial burden of disease and reduced quality of life for patients. Patient involvement in developing optimal disease management strategies, including defining appropriate goals, therapies, and treatment options, as well as in setting policy priorities and agendas, is key. A working group of patient organization representatives and rheumatologists explored what patients consider to be unmet needs, important treatment gaps, and future priorities in PsA and AxSpA management. Reducing pain and fatigue, and improving physical and social functioning and work productivity were identified as important treatment goals for patients. Although the major treatment target for both PsA and AxSpA is remission, with low/minimal disease activity an alternative target for patients with established or long-standing disease, the meaning of remission from the patient’s perspective needs to be explored further as it may differ considerably from the physician’s perspective. Key recommendations from the working group to tackle unmet needs included reducing time to diagnosis, increasing patient and physician disease awareness, focusing on patients’ priorities for treatment goals, and improving patient–physician communication. By addressing these key action points moving forward, the hope is that outcomes will continue to improve for patients with PsA and AxSpA.

Introduction/objectives To evaluate the journey to diagnosis, disease characteristics and burden of disease in male and female patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) across Europe. Method Data from 2846 unselected patients participating in the European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (EMAS) study through an online survey (2017–2018) across 13 countries were analysed. Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, diagnosis, disease characteristics and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) [disease activity –BASDAI (0–10), spinal stiffness (3–12), functional limitations (0–54) and psychological distress (GHQ-12)] were compared between males and females using chi-square (for categorical variables) and student t (for continuous variables) tests. Results In total, 1100 (38.7%) males and 1746 (61.3%) females participated in the EMAS. Compared with males, females reported considerable longer diagnostic delay (6.1 ± 7.4 vs 8.2 ± 8.9 years; p < 0.001), higher number of visits to physiotherapists (34.5% vs 49.5%; p < 0.001) and to osteopaths (13.3% vs 24.4%; p < 0.001) before being diagnosed and lower frequency of HLA-B27 carriership (80.2% vs 66.7%; p < 0.001). In addition, females reported higher degree of disease activity in all BASDAI aspects and greater psychological distress through GHQ-12 (4.4 ± 4.2 vs 5.3 ± 4.1; p < 0.001), as well as a greater use of alternative therapies. Conclusion The patient journey to diagnosis of axSpA is much longer and arduous in females, which may be related to physician bias and lower frequency of HLA-B27 carriership. Regarding PROs, females experience higher disease activity and poorer psychological health compared with males. These results reflect specific unmet needs in females with axSpA needing particular attention. Key Points• Healthcare professionals’ perception of axSpA as a predominantly male disease may introduce some bias during the diagnosis and management of the disease. However, evidence about male-female differences in axSpA is scarce.• EMAS results highlight how female axSpA patients report longer diagnostic delay and higher burden of the disease in a large sample of 2846 participants of 13 European countries.• Results reflect unmet needs of European female patients. Healthcare professionals should pay close attention in order to accurately diagnose and efficiently manage axSpA cases while further research should be developed on the cause of reported gender differences.

Although a large body of research supports the theory that exposure to nature results in mental health benefits, research evidence on the effects of having a view of green space from home is still scarce. The aim of the present study is to assess the impact that access to a green space view from home has on anxiety and depression. This is a cross-sectional study extracting data from the “2018 Green Spaces, Daily Habits and Urban Health Survey” conducted in Carmona (Spain). The study included variables on sociodemographic and lifestyle, view of green spaces from home, self-perceived health status, and risk of anxiety and depression measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Chi-square tests were used to assess variable’s associations and a multiple linear regression models used to identify the variables explaining the risk of anxiety and depression, taking into account sociodemographic characteristics, frequency of visits and view of green spaces from home. According to our results, adults who enjoy a view of green spaces from home have a lower risk of anxiety and depression.

Identifying highly disabled patients or at high risk of psychiatric comorbidity is crucial for migraine management. The burden of migraine increases with headache frequency, but the number of headache days (HDs) per month after which disability becomes severe or the risk of anxiety and depression is higher has not been established. Here, we estimate the number of HDs per month after which migraine is associated with higher risk of anxiety and depression, severe disability and lower quality of life. We analysed 468 migraine patients (mean age 36.8 ± 10.7; 90.2% female), of whom 38.5% had ≥ 15 HDs per month. Our results show a positive linear correlation between the number of HDs per month and the risk of anxiety (r = 0.273; p < 0.001), depression (r = 0.337; p < 0.001) and severe disability (r = 0.519; p < 0.001). The risk of anxiety is higher in patients having ≥ 3HDs per month, and those with ≥ 19HDs per month are at risk of depression. Moreover, patients suffering ≥ 10HDs per month have very severe disability. Our results suggest that migraine patients with ≥ 10HDs per month are very disabled and also that those with ≥ 3HDs per month should be screened for anxiety.