The epidemiology of polymyalgia rheumatica in primary care: a research protocol

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Study Protocol

Zoe Mayson¹  Rhian Hughes¹  Joanne Bailey¹  Sara Muller¹  Louise Cope¹  Christian D Mallen¹  Edward Roddy¹  Simon Wathall¹  Irena Zwierska¹  Toby Helliwell¹  Samantha Hider¹  Charlotte Purcell¹  Kevin Barraclough²  Rebecca Foskett³  Bhaskar Dasgupta⁴ 

[1] Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Primary Care Sciences, Keele University, ST5 5BG, Keele, Staffordshire, UK;Painswick Surgery, Hoyland House, Painswick, GL6 6RD, Gloucestershire, UK;Primary Care Research West Midlands North, Unit 2, Badhan Court, TF1 5QX, Telford, UK;Southend University Hospital, Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 ORY, Essex, UK;

关键词: Polymyalgia rheumatica;    Primary health care;    Cohort studies;    Health surveys;    Medical records;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2474-13-102

 received in 2012-05-08, accepted in 2012-06-15,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPolymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) is the commonest inflammatory condition seen in older patients in primary care. To date, however, research has been focused on secondary care cohorts rather than primary care where many patients are exclusively managed. This two year prospective inception cohort study of PMR patients will enable us to understand the full spectrum of this condition.MethodsPatients diagnosed with PMR in primary care will be identified via Read codes and mailed a series of postal questionnaires over a two-year period to assess their levels of pain, stiffness and functioning, as well as medication usage and other health-related and socio-demographic characteristics. In addition, participants will be asked for permission to link their survey data to their general practice electronic medical record and to national mortality and cancer registers.DiscussionThis will be the first large-scale, prospective, observational cohort of PMR patients in primary care. The combination of survey data with medical records and national registers will allow for a full investigation of the natural history and prognosis of this condition in the primary care setting, in which the majority of patients are treated, but where little research on the treatment and outcome of consultation has been undertaken. This will provide information that may lead to improved primary care management of PMR.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Muller et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012