Chris Tonner

Socioeconomic determinants of disability and depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

To examine the relationship between functional limitation, socioeconomic inequality, and depression in a diverse cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Racial and ethnic disparities in disease activity and function among persons with rheumatoid arthritis from university-affiliated clinics

Health outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have improved significantly over the past 2 decades. However, research suggests that disparities exist by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, with certain vulnerable populations remaining understudied. Our objective was to assess disparities in disease activity and function by race/ethnicity and explore the impact of language and immigrant status at clinics serving diverse populations.

Using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale to screen for depression in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Identifying persons with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at risk for depression would facilitate the identification and treatment of an important comorbidity conferring additional risk for poor outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of a brief screening measure, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D), in detecting mood disorders in persons with SLE.

Provision of preventive health care in systemic lupus erythematosus: data from a large observational cohort study.

IntroductionCancer and infections are leading causes of mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) after diseases of the circulatory system, and therefore preventing these complications is important. In this study, we examined two categories of preventive services in SLE: cancer surveillance (cervical, breast, and colon) and immunizations (influenza and pneumococcal). We compared the receipt of these services in SLE to the general population, and identified subgroups of patients who were less likely to receive these services.MethodsWe compared preventive services reported by insured women with SLE enrolled in the University of California, San Francisco Lupus Outcomes Study (n = 685) to two representative samples derived from a statewide health interview survey, a general population sample (n = 18,013) and a sample with non-rheumatic chronic conditions (n = 4,515). In addition, using data from the cohort in both men and women (n = 742), we applied multivariate regression analyses to determine whether characteristics of individuals (for example, sociodemographic and disease factors), health systems (for example, number of visits, involvement of generalists or rheumatologists in care, type of health insurance) or neighborhoods (neighborhood poverty) influenced the receipt of services.ResultsThe receipt of preventive care in SLE was similar to both comparison samples. For cancer surveillance, 70% of eligible respondents reported receipt of cervical cancer screening and mammography, and 62% reported colon cancer screening. For immunizations, 59% of eligible respondents reported influenza immunization, and 60% reported pneumococcal immunization. In multivariate regression analyses, several factors were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving preventive services, including younger age and lower educational attainment. We did not observe any effects by neighborhood poverty. A higher number of physician visits and involvement of generalist providers in care was associated with a higher likelihood of receiving most services.ConclusionsAlthough receipt of cancer screening procedures and immunizations in our cohort was comparable to the general population, we observed significant variability by sociodemographic factors such as age and educational attainment. Further research is needed to identify the physician, patient or health system factors contributing to this observed variation in order to develop effective quality improvement interventions.

Work loss and work entry among persons with systemic lupus erythematosus: Comparisons with a national matched sample†

OBJECTIVE To prospectively track work loss among those employed and work entry among those not employed in a cohort of persons with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), assess risk factors for these outcomes, and compare rates of the outcomes with a matched national sample. METHODS The present study analyzed 4 years of data from the Lupus Outcomes Study (LOS), augmented by information on the local labor market from the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to assess time from study initiation until work loss or work entry, and Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate factors affecting these outcomes. Finally, we compared rates of work loss and work entry in the LOS with rates in the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). RESULTS At study initiation, 394 LOS participants (51%) were employed, of whom 92 (23.4%) experienced work loss. In multivariate analysis, older age, lower cognitive and physical functioning, and higher reports of depressive symptoms predicted work loss. In comparison with the SIPP sample, rates of work loss did not differ. Of the 376 LOS participants not employed, 76 (20.2%) experienced work entry. In multivariate analysis, less disease activity, fewer lung manifestations, better physical functioning, and shorter time since last employment predicted work entry. In comparison with the SIPP, rates of work entry were only lower between ages 35 and 55 years. CONCLUSION Until age 55 years, low rates of employment among persons with SLE may be due to lower rates of work entry rather than higher rates of work loss. Beyond age 55 years, both high rates of work loss and low rates of work entry contribute to low rates of employment.

English Language Proficiency, Health Literacy, and Trust in Physician Are Associated with Shared Decision Making in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective. Treat-to-target guidelines promote shared decision making (SDM) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Also, because of high cost and potential toxicity of therapies, SDM is central to patient safety. Our objective was to examine patterns of perceived communication around decision making in 2 cohorts of adults with RA. Methods. Data were derived from patients enrolled in 1 of 2 longitudinal, observational cohorts [University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) RA Cohort and RA Panel Cohort]. Subjects completed a telephone interview in their preferred language that included a measure of patient-provider communication, including items about decision making. Measures of trust in physician, education, and language proficiency were also asked. Logistic regression was performed to identify correlates of suboptimal SDM communication. Analyses were performed on each sample separately. Results. Of 509 patients across 2 cohorts, 30% and 32% reported suboptimal SDM communication. Low trust in physician was independently associated with suboptimal SDM communication in both cohorts. Older age and limited English proficiency were independently associated with suboptimal SDM in the UCSF RA Cohort, as was limited health literacy in the RA Panel Cohort. Conclusion. This study of over 500 adults with RA from 2 demographically distinct cohorts found that nearly one-third of subjects report suboptimal SDM communication with their clinicians, regardless of cohort. Lower trust in physician was independently associated with suboptimal SDM communication in both cohorts, as was limited English language proficiency and older age in the UCSF RA Cohort and limited health literacy in the RA Panel Cohort. These findings underscore the need to examine the influence of SDM on health outcomes in RA.

Cardiovascular and disease‐related predictors of depression in systemic lupus erythematosus

Depression and cardiovascular disease are common and debilitating comorbidities associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, history of cardiovascular events, cardiovascular risk factors, and SLE disease‐related factors were evaluated as longitudinal predictors of depression in a large cohort of patients with SLE.

Sociodemographic, Disease, Health System, and Contextual Factors Affecting the Initiation of Biologic Agents in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Longitudinal Study

To analyze the effect of sociodemographic, disease, and health system characteristics and contextual features about the community of residence on the subsequent initiation of treatment with biologic agents for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Changes in use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis in the United States during 1983-2009.

Use of nonbiologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and/or biologic DMARDs is generally recommended to improve the prognosis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to describe the changing trends in DMARD use for RA over the past 2 decades.

Longitudinal study of the impact of incident organ manifestations and increased disease activity on work loss among persons with systemic lupus erythematosus

There is increasing evidence of the impact of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on employment, but few studies have had sufficient sample size and longitudinal followup to estimate the impact of specific manifestations or of increasing disease activity on employment.