Objectives: Study objectives were to: 1) determine the frequency of use and safety of each consensus treatment plan (CTP) regimen for chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) and the feasibility of using chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis international registry (CHOIR) data for comparative effectiveness research and 2) develop and validate a CNO clinical disease activity score (CDAS) using CHOIR.
Methods: Consenting CNO children or young adults were enrolled into CHOIR. Demographic, clinical, and imaging data were prospectively collected. The CNO CDAS was developed through a Delphi survey and nominal group technique. External validation surveys were administered to CHOIR participants.
Results: 140 (76%) CHOIR participants enrolled between August 2018 and September 2020 received at least one CTP regimen. Baseline characteristics from the three groups were well-matched. Patient pain, patient global assessment, and clinical CNO lesion count were key variables included in the CNO CDAS. The CDAS showed a strong correlation with patient/parent report of difficulty using a limb, back, or jaw and patient/parent report of disease severity, but a weak correlation with patient/parent report of fatigue, sadness, and worry. The change in CDAS was significant in patients reporting disease worsening or improvement. The CDAS significantly decreased after initiating second-line treatments from 12 (8-15.5) to 5 (3-12). All second-line treatments were well-tolerated. Psoriasis was the most common adverse event.
Conclusion: The CNO CDAS was developed and validated for disease monitoring and assessment of treatment effectiveness. CHOIR provided a comprehensive framework for future comparative effectiveness research.