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This study aims to assess rheumatologists' perceptions, utilization patterns, and attitudes towards the modified New York (mNY) criteria for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).Members of the national rheumatology societies in five countries (United States of America (USA), Canada, India, Turkey, and Brazil) were invited to participate in a survey containing questions regarding rheumatologists' familiarity, and use of AS and axSpA classification criteria in daily practice, perceived specificity of spondyloarthritis features in making the diagnosis, patterns of imaging tests performed in daily practice, and their opinion about the need for modification of current classification criteria. The responses were analyzed by gender, age, years in practice, as well as by country of practice. Descriptive statistics, t test, and chi-square test were used for comparison of groups.Approximately 6% rheumatologists (478 out of 8021 professional association members) from five countries completed the survey. The country-specific response rates were Brazil 4%, USA 4.3%, India 11%, Canada 14%, and Turkey 29%, though the overall contributions from individual countries were USA 47%, India 14.9%, Brazil 13.8%, Turkey 12.8%, and Canada 8.8%. The mean age of respondents was 50 years (± 11.8), 31% were females and 90% spent majority ( 75%) of their time in clinical practice. The mNY and ASAS criteria were regularly used in clinical practice by 44 and 66% of responders, respectively. Those reporting "always" using ASAS criteria were more likely to be women (p = 0.006), and within 5 years of completing rheumatology training. Vast majority (74%) regarded Inflammatory Back Pain (IBP) as a specific feature for axSpA. Majority (50 and 60%, respectively) regarded uveitis and dactylitis as "very specific" features helping them make the diagnosis of axSpA, whereas heel enthesitis, peripheral inflammatory arthritis, and response to NSAIDs were considered "somewhat specific" by 50% of the responders. Less than half (47%) of the responders used the mNY grading for X-ray of SI joints. In the case of normal X-ray of SI joint, the use of MRI was more frequent than CT scan (83.6 vs. 10.9%) in assessing for sacroiliitis. If sacroiliitis was not seen on X-rays, the likelihood of ordering MRI was significantly higher among rheumatologists completing training within 15 years versus 25 years prior (90 vs. 75%, p = 0.007). Overall, 70% thought that ASAS criteria were adequately specific for clinical trials. However, 42% respondents still felt a need to modify ASAS classification criteria for axSpA. Also, 46% respondents felt that mNY criteria should be modified.In the absence of diagnostic criteria, majority of rheumatologists are using the classification criteria for diagnosis of axSpA. Though axSpA classification criteria are perceived to be specific for clinical trials, 40% rheumatologists feel the need to modify these criteria. Key Points • This study informs how rheumatologists in five countries spread over four different continents diagnose axSpA in clinical practice. • Since majority rheumatologists among survey respondents across the countries use ASAS criteria for diagnosis of axSpA, more specific criteria may be required to avoid overdiagnosis. • MRI is commonly used to rule out sacroiliitis in case of normal X-ray of sacroiliac joints.

BACKGROUND Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a noninflammatory condition affecting the spine, characterized by ossification of paravertebral ligaments. Our cross-sectional study investigated the frequency, associated morbidity, and healthcare utilization of DISH patients at our university hospital over 1 year. METHODS Our university's database of spinal radiographs was searched from 2005 to 2015 for "DISH" or "diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis." The diagnosis of DISH was made by 2 board-certified radiologists (B.B. and C.Q.) based on the radiographs of cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. Patients from 2015 were further analyzed with regards to demographics, comorbidities, and healthcare interventions. Their spinal radiographs were reread by 2 authors. Patients were divided into those who fulfilled the Resnick criteria for DISH (group A), and those who did not fully meet the criteria but had radiographic features suggestive of DISH (group B). Means and proportions were used to describe variables. For group comparisons, t test and χ test were used. RESULTS Between 2005 and 2015, 3439 radiology records mentioned DISH as a diagnosis. Of 195 patients diagnosed with DISH in 2015, 153 were in group A, 41 were in group B, and 2 had erroneous diagnoses. Chronic back pain was common, and more often reported in group B than in group A (81% vs 63%, p = 0.04). Substantial portions of patients required opioid medications for pain control (51%), spinal surgery (31%), and consultations with various specialists for regional pain (57%). CONCLUSIONS Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a diagnosis with significant morbidity, despite being commonly viewed as asymptomatic. A majority of DISH patients had chronic back pain, and a large proportion required spinal surgery, although there may be several confounders. Future research is needed to systematically assess healthcare utilization by DISH patients.

Background Psoriasis Quality of Life (PQoL-12) is a validated composite tool assessing patients' quality of life (QoL) with psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3), measuring physical function, pain, and patient global assessment, is used for rheumatoid arthritis. Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 has not been used to assess PsO/PsA patients' QoL. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between PQoL-12 and RAPID3 in PsO and PsA patients in a cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Methods Data came from PsO and PsA patients seen from 2008 to 2015 at Oregon Health & Science University (n = 558: 393 with PsO and 165 with PsA). Nonlinear least squares regressions modeled PQoL-12 with functions of RAPID3, controlling for time since first visit. Nonparametric ROC determined RAPID3 scores best correlating with PQoL-12 cutoffs. Results Among the PsO cohort, PQoL-12 was explained by RAPID3, the square of RAPID3, time since first visit, and the square of time since first visit; adjusted R = 0.414. For the PsA cohort, PQoL-12 was explained by RAPID3, change in slope of RAPID3 at 2.28, time since first visit, the square of time since first visit; adjusted R = 0.340. Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 cutoffs for PQoL-12 scores of 48 and 96 (mild and moderate QoL impairment) in PsO were 1.55 and 5.72 and in PsA were 1.89 and 6.34. Conclusions Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 weakly correlated with PQoL-12, indicating these indices assess different aspects of PsO and PsA. Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 fails to capture mental health information that greatly impacts patients' QoL, whereas PQoL-12 fails to capture the physical and functional aspects of the disease. Results indicate the importance of capturing mental health assessment in order to create a comprehensive tool to measure how psoriatic disease affects patients' QoL.