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Introduction Rheumatic diseases are the most frequent cause of non-malignant chronic pain. In recent years, pain and its management have become more important in rheumatology. Objectives To estimate the prevalence and characteristics of pain associated with rheumatic pathology treated in rheumatology clinics in Spain, as well as their treatment and response to it. Methods Multicentre observational study with two phases (cross-sectional and prospective). Variables were collected from the doctor, patient, pain and its management, comorbidities, therapeutic response and related psychosocial aspects. The differences between de novo (NP) vs. follow-up (FP) patients were analyzed. Results 34 centres and 1084 patients were included, 32% NP and 68% FP. Pain was present in 86%, was chronic in 81% and neuropathic in 12% of the surveyed population. Fifty percent of the patients would regard their pain as tolerable if its intensity according to the visual numeric scale (VNS) was ≤2. Among the FP it was more frequent to have the perception of controlled pain (65.5% vs. 49.4%) and to be satisfied with the treatment (53.3% vs. 35.6%). Of these patients, 23.5% had been treated with opioids in the previous month. Conclusions In the last decade, the prevalence of pain in rheumatology in Spain remains high, although it has diminished. The use of opioids, on the other hand, has increased.

espanolIntroduccion Las enfermedades reumaticas son la causa mas frecuente de dolor cronico no maligno. En los ultimos anos el dolor y su manejo han cobrado mayor relevancia en reumatologia. Objetivos Establecer la prevalencia y las caracteristicas del dolor asociado a enfermedad reumatica atendido en consultas de reumatologia de nuestro pais, asi como de su tratamiento y la respuesta a este. Metodos Estudio multicentrico observacional con 2 fases, una transversal y otra prospectiva. Se recogieron variables del medico, paciente, dolor y su manejo, comorbilidades, respuesta terapeutica y aspectos psicosociales relacionados. Se analizaron las diferencias entre pacientes nuevos y en revision (PR). Resultados Se incluyeron 34 centros y 1.084 pacientes, 32% pacientes nuevos y 68% PR. En general, el dolor estaba presente en el 86% de los pacientes, era cronico en el 81% y neuropatico en un 12%. El 50% de los pacientes consideraria el dolor aceptable cuando la intensidad en la escala visual numerica fuese ≤ 2. Entre los PR existia mayor percepcion de dolor controlado (65,5% vs. 49,4%) y satisfaccion con el tratamiento (53,3% vs. 35,6%). El 23,5% estaba en tratamiento con opioides en el mes previo. Conclusiones En la ultima decada la prevalencia de dolor en el ambito reumatologico en nuestro pais persiste elevada, aunque ha disminuido. El empleo de opioides, por otra parte, ha aumentado. EnglishIntroduction rheumatic diseases are the most frequent cause of non-malignant chronic pain. In recent years, pain and its management have become more important in rheumatology. Objectives to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of pain associated with rheumatic pathology treated in rheumatology clinics in Spain, as well as their treatment and response to it. Methods Multicentre observational study with two phases (cross-sectional and prospective). Variables were collected from the doctor, patient, pain and its management, comorbidities, therapeutic response and related psychosocial aspects. The differences between de novo (NP) vs follow-up (FP) patients were analyzed. Results 34 centres and 1084 patients were included, 32% NP and 68% FP. Pain was present in 86%, was chronic in 81% and neuropathic in 12% of the surveyed population. Fifty percent of the patients would regard their pain as tolerable if its intensity according to the visual numeric scale (VNS) was ≤ 2. Among the FP it was more frequent to have the perception of controlled pain (65.5% vs 49.4%) and to be satisfied with the treatment (53.3% vs. 35.6%). Of these patients, 23.5% had been treated with opioids in the previous month. Conclusions In the last decade, the prevalence of pain in rheumatology in Spain remains high, although it has diminished. The use of opioids, on the other hand, has increased.

Introduction One of the missions of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology is to provide the necessary tools for excellence in health care. Currently, there is no reference point to quantify medical actions in this specialty, and this is imperative. Material and method A list of actions was drawn up and a hierarchical classification system was established by developing a complexity index, calculated based on the completion time and difficulty level of each action. Results The results of the Delphi method tended to the consensus opinion within a group (mean σ2 − σ1 = 0 .75–1.43 = −0.68, mean IQR2–IQR1 = 0.8–1.9 = −1.1). The values of the complexity index ranged between 48 and 465 points. Among consultation actions, those reaching the highest scores were the first inpatient visit (366) and visits to the patient's home (369). Among diagnostic techniques, biopsies were prominent, those with the highest score were: bone biopsy (465), sural nerve biopsy (416) and synovial biopsy (380). Ultrasound scan scored 204, capillaroscopy 113 and densitometry 112. Among therapeutic techniques, infiltration/arthrocentesis/articular injection in children reached the highest difficulty (388). The score for ultrasound-guided articular injection was 163. The score for clinical report on disability was 323 and expert report 370. Conclusions A nomenclature of 54 actions in Rheumatology was compiled. Biopsies (bone, sural nerve, synovial), inpatient visits, visits to the patient's home, infiltrations in children, and the preparation of the expert report were identified as the most complex actions. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is twice as complex as subsequent visits, capillaroscopy or bone densitometry.

espanolIntroduccion Una mision de la Sociedad Espanola de Reumatologia es aportar las herramientas necesarias para alcanzar la excelencia asistencial. En la actualidad no existe una referencia que cuantifique la complejidad de los actos medicos de esta especialidad. Material y metodo Se elaboro una relacion de los actos propios del reumatologo y se establecio un sistema de clasificacion jerarquica a partir de la construccion de un indice de complejidad, calculado mediante el tiempo de realizacion y el grado de dificultad de cada acto. Resultados Los resultados del metodo Delphi tendieron a una opinion grupal consensuada (media σ2 - σ1 = 0,75-1,43 = -0,68, media IQR2 - IQR1 = 0,8-1,9 = -1,1). El rango de valores del indice de complejidad oscilo de 48 a 465 puntos. Entre las consultas, las que alcanzaron mayor gradacion fueron la primera visita al paciente hospitalizado (366) y la visita a domicilio (369). Entre las tecnicas diagnosticas, destacaron las biopsias. Las que puntuaron mas alto fueron: biopsia osea (465), de nervio sural (416) y sinovial (380). La ecografia tuvo una puntuacion de 204, la capilaroscopia de 113 y la densitometria de 112. Entre las tecnicas terapeuticas, la maxima dificultad (388), la alcanzo la infiltracion/artrocentesis/ inyeccion articular infantil. La puntuacion de la inyeccion articular con control ecografico fue de 163. El informe clinico de minusvalia, 323 y el informe pericial, 370. Conclusiones Este trabajo ha permitido elaborar un nomenclator de 54 actos en reumatologia donde se identifican como actos mas complejos la realizacion de biopsias (osea, nervio sural, sinovial), la visita a paciente hospitalizado, la visita a domicilio, la infiltracion infantil bajo sedacion y la elaboracion de un informe pericial. La ecografia osteomuscular es considerada el doble de compleja de una visita sucesiva, la capilaroscopia o la densitometria osea. EnglishIntroduction One of the missions of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology is to provide the necessary tools for excellence in health care. Currently, there is no reference point to quantify medical actions in this specialty, and this is imperative. Material and method A list of actions was drawn up and a hierarchical classification system was established by developing a complexity index, calculated based on the completion time and difficulty level of each action. Results The results of the Delphi method tended to the consensus opinion within a group (mean σ2 - σ1 = 0.75-1.43 = -0.68, mean IQR2 - IQR1 = 0.8-1.9 = -1.1). The values of the complexity index ranged between 48 and 465 points. Among consultation actions, those reaching the highest scores were the first inpatient visit (366) and visits to the patient's home (369). Among diagnostic techniques, biopsies were prominent, those with the highest score were: bone biopsy (465), sural nerve biopsy (416) and synovial biopsy (380). Ultrasound scan scored 204, capillaroscopy 113 and densitometry 112. Among therapeutic techniques, infiltration/ arthrocentesis/articular injection in children reached the highest difficulty (388). The score for ultrasound-guided articular injection was 163. The score for clinical report on disability was 323 and expert report 370. Conclusions A nomenclature of 54 actions in Rheumatology was compiled. Biopsies (bone, sural nerve, synovial), inpatient visits, visits to the patient's home, infiltrations in children, and the preparation of the expert report were identified as the most complex actions. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is twice as complex as subsequent visits, capillaroscopy or bone densitometry.

rheumatic diseases are the most frequent cause of non-malignant chronic pain. In recent years, pain and its management have become more important in rheumatology.to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of pain associated with rheumatic pathology treated in rheumatology clinics in Spain, as well as their treatment and response to it.Multicentre observational study with two phases (cross-sectional and prospective). Variables were collected from the doctor, patient, pain and its management, comorbidities, therapeutic response and related psychosocial aspects. The differences between de novo (NP) vs follow-up (FP) patients were analyzed.34 centres and 1084 patients were included, 32% NP and 68% FP. Pain was present in 86%, was chronic in 81% and neuropathic in 12% of the surveyed population. Fifty percent of the patients would regard their pain as tolerable if its intensity according to the visual numeric scale (VNS) was≤2. Among the FP it was more frequent to have the perception of controlled pain (65.5% vs 49.4%) and to be satisfied with the treatment (53.3% vs. 35.6%). Of these patients, 23.5% had been treated with opioids in the previous month.In the last decade, the prevalence of pain in rheumatology in Spain remains high, although it has diminished. The use of opioids, on the other hand, has increased.