Background/Purpose: The RhePort system, accessible via “www.RhePort.de” and featuring an integrated questionnaire with a specialized algorithm, aims to facilitate the early diagnosis of inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD). This system prioritizes access for primary care physicians and patients to a first consultation with a rheumatologist, enabling earlier diagnosis and quicker initiation of specific therapies, such as DMARDs and biologics. This project evaluates the upgraded version, RhePort 1.3, using a newly designed questionnaire and assesses its performance.

Methods: This prospective study included patients completing the RhePort questionnaire online or during their first rheumatological appointment. The RhePort system generated a score based on the responses, which was followed by a rheumatological consultation to confirm or exclude inflammatory IRD. The largest subgroups of patients diagnosed with IRDs (20 patients each at least) were analyzed regarding their mean RhePort score compared to the group of patients  also referred to participating study centers but ultimately diagnosed not having IRD.

Results: Among 614 diagnoses (table 1), no rheumatic disease was found in 63.4%. Patients with no inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD) had a mean RhePort score of 1.42 (95% CI: 1.30-1.55). Higher mean scores were seen in those diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [2.15 (95% CI: 1.87-2.43)] and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) [2.12 (95% CI: 1.55-2.69)]. Corresponding effect sizes compared to patients without IRD (moderate effect: d > 0.5) are displayed in figure 1. Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) had a mean score of 2.07 (95% CI: 1.40-2.75), and patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) of 1.74 (95% CI: 1.41-2.08). See table 2 for further details.

Conclusion: The upgraded RhePort 1.3 system, significantly aids in detecting patients with (IRD), ensuring quicker access to appropriate rheumatological care and facilitating timely intervention. The RhePort system’s potential for broader application in clinical practice warrants further investigation to optimize its diagnostic algorithms and expand its use in diverse healthcare settings.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/a-prospective-study-on-early-diagnosis-of-inflammatory-rheumatic-diseases-using-an-enhanced-online-questionnaire-system-rheport-1-3/