What Is New - Epidemiology

Take a look at our 'What is new' highlights in epidemiology!

February 2023

"Influence of active versus placebo control on treatment responses in randomised controlled trials in rheumatoid arthritis"

Why WIN?

There is a secular trend in RA clinical trials from purely placebo-controlled, towards more active-controlled trials. This study shows that ACR response rates are systematically lower in placebo-controlled, compared to active-controlled studies. Efficacy results of active-controlled and placebo-controlled studies may therefore not be directly comparable, and treatment effectiveness in placebo-controlled studies may be conservative compared to the clinical setting, in which patients will expect active drug treatment.

Does this study influence your expectations of drug effects in clinical practice?

Share your response with us using the hashtag #WhatIsNew and tag us @EMEUNET

January 2023

" Interactions Between Genetic Risk and Diet Influencing Risk of Incident Female Gout: Discovery and Replication Analysis of Four Prospective Cohorts "

Why WIN?

Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in developed countries and has become increasingly frequent in other parts of the world, with a disproportionate increase in women over the past three decades. This study shows an interaction between genetic predisposition and diet in women, with nearly half of the excess risk attributable to this gene-diet interaction.

Interactive question

Do you think the rise in incidence of gout in women can be reversed by a healthier dietary pattern?

Share your response with us using the hashtag #WhatIsNew and tag us @EMEUNET

December 2022

" Lupus low disease activity state and remission and risk of mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective, multinational, longitudinal cohort study "

Why WINS?

Patients with SLE have a two to five times increased risk of mortality compared with age- and gender-matched individuals in the general population. This study validates LLDAS as a treat-to-target endpoint that reduces the risk of mortality. Only glucocorticoid free remission further reduces this risk.

Interactive question

What do you think is the best target in a treat-to-target strategy in SLE ?

1. low disease activity

2. Remission

3. Glucocorticoid free remission

Share your response with us using the hashtag #WhatIsNew and tag us @EMEUNET

November 2022

"SARS-CoV-2 Omicron escapes mRNA vaccine boosterinduced antibody neutralisation in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases: an observational cohort study"

Why WIN?

This study investigates whether COVID-19 vaccines can elicit cross-reactive antibody responses against the Omicron variant in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs).

Interactive question

Do you think patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases have enough immunogenicity for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron after a booster dose of mRNA vaccine? Yes/No

Share your response with us using the hashtag #WhatIsNew and tag us @EMEUNET

October 2022

"Safety and immunogenicity of a third COVID-19 vaccination in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases compared with healthy controls"

Why WIN?

A third COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for immunosuppressed patients. However, data on immunogenicity and safety of a third COVID-19 vaccination in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are sparse and therefore addressed within this clinical trial.

Interactive question

Do you think a third COVID-19 vaccination is safe and efficient for patients with immune mediated inflammatory diseases? Yes/No

Share your response with us using the hashtag #WhatIsNew and tag us @EMEUNET

September 2022

"Immunogenicity and safety of a fourth COVID-19 vaccination in rituximab-treated patients: an open-label extension study"

Why WIN?

Patients under rituximab have impaired humoral responses after primary vaccination, depending on the number of the detectable peripheral B-cells. This study describes that a fourth vaccine dose is immunogenic in a fraction of rituximab-treated patients.

Interactive question

Do you think a second booster dose for COVID-19 has an additional benefit for patients under rituximab treatment?

Share your response with us using the hashtag #WhatIsNew and tag us @EMEUNET

May 2022

"Socio-demographic determinants in the evolution of pain in inflammatory rheumatic diseases: results from ESPOIR and DESIR cohorts"

Why WINS?

Pain is one of the most difficult symptoms to treat in Rheumatology. This study identified several socio-demographic factors (older age, female gender, non-Caucasian ethnicity and a lower educational status) that were associated with a poor pain prognosis.

Interactive question

What is the best way to measure pain in clinical practice (thus not for research purposes)?