Feasibility and usefulness of a fast-track clinic for patients suspected of polymyalgia rheumatica: notes for a work schedule through a narrative review of published literature

Abstract

Objectives

Fast-track clinics (FTC) have been introduced in different fields and have been reporting significant outcomes in terms of reducing mortality, morbidity, and financial costs. To date, scarce evidence is available for FTC specific for patients suspected of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). The primary aim of our paper is to provide an overview of the clinical impact of PMR on patients and the healthcare system by analysing multiple aspects: the median time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and the burden of the disease both on the healthcare system costs and on patients’ quality of life (QoL). Secondarily, based on these data, we aim to discuss the potential advantages and feasibility of a PMR FTC in everyday clinical practice.

Material and methods

We performed a narrative non-systematic review (PRISMA protocol not followed) of PubMed and Medline (OVID interface) with the following MeSH terms: [polymyalgia rheumatica AND diagnosis OR diagnosis, delayed OR patient care OR early diagnosis OR length of stay OR costs OR healthcare system OR quality of life] or [polymyalgia rheumatica AND glucocorticoids AND side effects]. We decided to exclude every paper that did not report raw data in terms of diagnostic time or delay, hospitalization rate, socio-economic costs on the healthcare system, patients’ QoL, and glucocorticoids-related events in PMR patients. Papers focused primarily on giant cell arteritis patients with overlapping PMR were also excluded. Abstract archives of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) congresses of the last 10 years were screened and included in the search if raw data were available. Each paper’s reference list was scanned for additional publications meeting this study’s aims. When papers reported data partially presented in previous articles, we opted to use the most recently published data.

Results

According to our literature review, a PMR FTC might lighten the burden of the disease. Nevertheless, its feasibility depends mostly on the resources of the national health system and of the territorial health district, which are heterogeneously limited. The usefulness of PMR FTCs depends on closer collaboration with the general practitioner because he/she is the first clinician to visit patients with PMR.

Conclusions

Polymyalgia rheumatica fast-track clinics might lighten the burden of the disease. However, it has some limits that should carefully assessed in planning health policies.

Introduction

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is the one of the most common inflammatory rheumatic conditions in older patients, with a higher prevalence among women and in those of north European ethnicity [1]. Along with the phenomenon of global aging, its incidence is predicted to increase [2]. Aching and stiffness of the shoulders, hip girdle, and neck are its typical manifestations. Its onset is so sudden that the patient usually remembers the exact day and hour [3]. Polymyalgia rheumatica is frequently accompanied by an increase of the inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] and C-reactive protein [CRP] concentrations, above all) and in some patients by constitutional symptoms such as fever, fatigue, malaise, and weight loss [4].

On the other hand, normal ESR and CRP should not be a reason to exclude PMR, because PMR with normal ESR and CRP concentrations at the time of diagnosis exists [5, 6], and this applies to 14% of PMR patients, according to a recently published retrospective study [7]. Finally, PMR might present either as an isolated condition or in association (in up to 16–21% of cases) with giant cell arteritis (GCA), a large vessel vasculitis targeting the aorta and its branches [8, 9]. Giant cell arteritis can cause irreversible sight loss if treatment with glucocorticoids (GCs) is procrastinated [10].

Polymyalgia rheumatica can be easily diagnosed when it manifests with typical features. However, atypical presentations are not infrequent in everyday clinical practice, and several diseases, including inflammatory, autoimmune, infective, and malignant processes, can mimic PMR, making its diagnosis more challenging [11].

In Table I, we list the most common PMR-mimicking diseases and the main signs and symptoms that can be useful in their differential diagnosis. If misdiagnosed or inadequately treated, PMR can exert a profound burden on the patient’s quality of life (QoL) [17]. This derives from the impairment due to the inflammatory pain and stiffness, from secondary depressive symptoms and sleep disorders, and chronically from the potential adverse events (AEs) of medium to high dosages of GCs [18–22].

Table I.

Polymyalgia rheumatica–mimicking diseases. Signs and symptoms useful for a correct diagnosis [12–16]

Disease	Signs and symptoms useful for a correct diagnosis
Rheumatoid arthritis	Involvement of some joints of the hands (metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal), positive results of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA), radiographic and ultrasound findings (erosive arthritis, periarticular osteoporosis)
Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema (RS3PE)	Symmetric multiple synovitis, seronegative for RF and ACPA, causing boxing-glove swelling with pitting oedema of hands and feet. Ultrasound findings: tenosynovitis of extensor tendon sheath
Late-onset inflammatory spondyloarthropathies, including ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis	Inflammatory pain in the lumbar region; radiographic findings of sacroiliitis; psoriasis
Late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, vasculitis	Presence of antinuclear antibodies, presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (dermatomyositis, polymyositis)	Skin rashes, increased serum levels of creatine kinase
Scapulohumeral periarthritis and adhesive capsulitis (“frozen shoulder”)	Restriction of shoulder movements, even passive; ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging allow one to diagnose the specific inflammation. Inflammatory markers not raised
Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease	Monoarthritis; radiographic and ultrasound findings, examination of synovial fluid
Paraneoplastic syndromes	Failure to respond to glucocorticoid therapy or frequent relapses must be considered as elements of suspicion. Furthermore, the presence of atypical clinical manifestations and laboratory findings (among these, macrocytic anaemia or bicytopaenia), and familiarity for neoplasms should be considered as warning signs
Fibromyalgia	Inflammatory indices in their normal range, presence of tender points, widespread chronic pain

Usually the general practitioner (GP) is the first clinician who visits a patient with PMR, but the level of the GP’s diagnostic accuracy is often low [23, 24].

Fast-track approaches have been introduced in different fields and have been reporting significant outcomes in terms of reducing mortality, morbidity, and financial costs. Fast-track clinics (FTC) are already available for the early diagnosis of GCA in different countries worldwide, particularly in the United Kingdom [25, 26], Italy [27], Norway [28], and the United States [29]. Their implementation was proven to significantly reduce the risk of permanent visual impairment and to be more cost-effective by reducing the need for inpatient care [25–29]. Conversely, less evidence is available for FTC specific for patients suspected of PMR. Recently, Danish investigators reported that the introduction of a PMR fast-track pathway in their clinic reduced the time to diagnosis and lowered both prednisone initiation before the rheumatologic assessment and the number of hospital admissions [30].

The primary aim of our paper is to provide an overview of the clinical impact of PMR on patients and the healthcare system by analysing these aspects: the median time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis, and the burden of the disease both on the healthcare system costs and on patients’ QoL. Secondarily, based on these data, we aim to discuss the potential advantages and feasibility of a PMR FTC in everyday clinical practice.

Material and methods

We performed a narrative non-systematic review (PRISMA protocol not followed) on PubMed and Medline (OVID interface) with the following MeSH terms: [polymyalgia rheumatica AND diagnosis OR diagnosis, delayed OR patient care OR early diagnosis OR length of stay OR costs OR healthcare system OR quality of life] or [polymyalgia rheumatica AND glucocorticoids AND side effects].

The articles that did not report raw data in terms of diagnostic time or delay, hospitalization rate, socio-economic costs on the healthcare systems, patients’ QoL, and GCs-related events in PMR patients were excluded from analyses as well as papers focused primarily on the patients with GCA and overlapping PMR. Abstract archives of the European Ligue Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) congresses of the last 10 years were screened and included in the search if raw data were available. The reference list of each paper was scanned for additional publications meeting the aims of the presented study. In the case of presenting the data taken partially from previous articles, we based the analysis on the most recent data.

Results of the search and data interpretation

Time frame from the onset symptoms to the diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica and its hospitalization rate

We identified 10 papers reporting the period from symptom onset until diagnosis [23, 30–38]. A wide interval time to PMR diagnosis emerged among the studies, ranging from 22 days to 26 months depending on the considered cohort of patients. Of note, 2 studies also underlined the percentage of misdiagnoses varying from 64.8% to 86.4% [23, 33].

The diversity in the diagnostic performances might be due both to the geographic and time differences among the analysed group of patients and to the pattern of clinical presentations. Besides the typical inflammatory forms with the involvement of the girdles, clinicians may encounter atypical disease spectra; namely: not raised acute phase reactants, malignancy-associated, poor response to GCs, and predominant clinical array of constitutional symptoms without a specific clinical/ultrasound-based girdle involvement.

Additionally, a key role explaining such variability might also be awareness of the disease among GPs. Partnership work and shared training between rheumatologists and GPs proved very effective in raising this awareness and familiarity. For instance, in our experience, the median time from symptom onset until rheumatologic referral was 22 days in the group of trained GPs and 42 days in the group of untrained GPs [23]. Two papers also calculated the rate of hospitalization with contrasting data. In particular, in the retrospective paper of Dalkılıç et al. [31], 29.2% of PMR patients required at least one hospital admission in order to receive the diagnosis. However, no statistically significant differences in the hospitalization rates were shown between PMR and non-PMR patients in the data of Raheel et al. [32].

These results might be explained by differences of the studies in terms of sample size (respectively, 106 vs. 463 patients), study design (retrospective paper vs. population-based study), length of the observation period/follow-up (3 years vs. 19 years), and geographic variability in terms of PMR incidence, clinical patterns, and physicians’ awareness (Turkey vs. US). Table II shows a summary of the raw data.

Table II.

Health-related variables in polymyalgia rheumatica analysed in different counties worldwide

	First author	Dalkılıç [31]	Raheel [32]	Manzo [23]	Do [33]	Kim [34]	Cimmino [35]	Lee [36]	Marsman [7]	Sobrero [37]	Frølund [30]
	Country	Turkey	United States	Italy	South Korea	South Korea	Italy	South Korea	Netherlands	Italy	Denmark
	Year of publication	2014	2018	2018	2018	2012	2011	2013	2021	2021	2021
	Sample size	N = 106	N = 463	N = 303	N = 54	N = 51	N = 60	N = 78	N = 454	N = 383	N = 132
Health-related variable
Time frame from symptoms to diagnosis		13.5 ±13.3 months	n.a.	24.3 days ±12.5 in trained GPs vs. 42.9 ±15 days in non-trained GPs	8.1 ±8.6 months	4 ±11.7 months	3 months	10.6 ±13.6 weeks	10 weeks for patients with increased inflammatory markers vs. 13 weeks for patients with normal values of acute phase reactants	2 months	52 days for FTC patients vs. 80 days for the historical cohort
Hospitalization – percentage of admitted patients or number of hospitalizations – LOS		31/106 patients (29.2%)LOS: 7 ±3 days	1398 hospitalizations In 8.4 years LOS: 4.4 days	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a	n.a	n.a	n.a	n.a
Percentage of misdiagnosis		n.a	n.a	86.4 %	64.8 %	n.a.	n.a	n.a	n.a	n.a	n.a

GPs – general practitioners, LOS – length of stay, n.a. – not assessed.

GC-related events in polymyalgia rheumatica and quality of life in polymyalgia patients

The burden of GC-related complications might be relevant in a significant proportion of PMR patients who need low-dose GC therapy for many years to control the symptoms of the disease.

In a retrospective cohort of 222 PMR patients, low-dose GC treatment was associated with serious adverse events (AEs) such as osteoporosis (24.7%), frailty fractures (13.9%), arterial hypertension (12.1%), and diabetes mellitus (4.9%), with events occurring generally after 2 years of treatment [38]. A lower incidence of cardiovascular events was also reported: acute myocardial infarction (4%), stroke (1.3%), and peripheral arterial disease (0.9%) [39].

However, other studies concluded that treatment with GC in PMR patients is not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases [40], and a recent meta-analysis investigating the risk ratio of PMR patients for coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular events did not show univocal findings [41].

More recently, the rates of clinically significant GC-related AEs including hypertension, osteoporotic fractures, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, and cataracts has been also reported for a larger cohort of 359 patients by Shbeeb et al. [42] (respectively, 16%, 24.9%, 13.5%, and 16%). However, except for the cumulative incidence of cataract in PMR patients (41%), the differences between the other comorbidities were not statistically significant between PMR patients and age- and gender- matched steroid-free comparators. This similarity may result from the generally low GC dosages used. Despite this latter evidence, the use of GCs should always be based on disease activity and tapered in line with international guidelines [43].

Lastly, the diagnosis of a chronic illness often generates psychological sequelae in PMR patients. Indeed, a recent cross-sectional study [19] reported higher prevalence of current depressive symptoms among primary care PMR patients in comparison with matched controls for gender and age. The impaired psychical domain inevitably alters patients’ QoL in association with other potential co-existing symptoms such as sleep disturbances and most notably stiffness, which is closely related to function, often preventing patients from carrying out their daily activities [17–19]. Nevertheless, according to a recent systematic review, grey areas are still present in the assessment of depression and depressive symptoms in patients with PMR [44].

Medical costs of polymyalgia rheumatica

Few literature data are available about the medical costs of PMR and the impact that the disease exerts on the national healthcare system.

An American study was the first to report the financial burden of PMR; in particular, it was observed that individuals with PMR utilized a significantly greater number of outpatient and laboratory services compared with age- and sex- matched controls. More specifically, the authors evaluated that the additional total cost over 5 years ranged from $2.233 to $27.712, respectively, being the 10^th percentile and 90^th percentile [45].

Additionally, a French paper recently estimated that PMR-related costs increase GCA’s financial burden of 76% in first three years [46]. In detail, the cumulative additional cost incurred by GCA patients due to overlapping PMR totaled €8801 in the first 3 years, and €10,532 during the first 5 years. This was mainly attributed to a greater inpatient stay, drug prescriptions, and paramedical care.

The data of the 2 previously mentioned studies are difficult to confront because of the profound differences between the American and French healthcare systems and the heterogeneity of their populations: the first one considered PMR patients whereas the second focused on GCA individuals with overlapping PMR.

Nevertheless, these findings should stimulate the gathering of further data on the socio-economic impact of PMR from other countries to obtain a better estimate of the financial difference in integrating a PMR FTC in clinical practice.

Can polymyalgia rheumatica fast-track clinics reduce the global disease burden?

It is easy to understand that the earlier PMR diagnosis is made, the better the health outcomes of the patients. Is an FTC for patients suspected of PMR a viable solution? We suggest a potential algorithm of a PMR fast pathway (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

Potential algorithm for a fast-track pathway for polymyalgia rheumatica patients.

On the other hand, an FTC for patients suspected of PMR has some limits that must be highlighted and discussed.

Firstly, a PMR FTC implies the availability of rheumatological clinics to dedicate staff resources with clinical expertise, who are well trained in US joint examination to cover each item of PMR classification criteria [47]. In this way, a finer differential diagnostic can be made with other inflammatory and non-inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, clinical and US expertise for diagnosis of GCA is essential.

Secondly, the question of how many national and/or regional health systems could financially support this thorough approach is significant, because if PMR is not an emergency (unlike GCA, for example), how ethically justifiable would be to “favour” these patients, perhaps over others?

Finally, collaboration with the GP should be implemented through partnership work and shared training. Fixed algorithms cannot replace this collaboration.

Conclusions

Polymyalgia rheumatica exerts a profound impact on patients’ lives in multiple aspects: GC-related adverse events, costs on the healthcare system, co-morbidities, and quality of life.

A PMR FTC might lighten the burden of the disease. Nevertheless, its feasibility depends mostly on the resources of the national health systems and of the territorial health districts, which are heterogeneously limited. Also, its usefulness depends on a closer collaboration with the GP because he/she is the first clinician to visit patients with PMR.