Fibromyalgia News

Patient education in combination with a variety of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies are necessary to adequately manage fibromyalgia, noted a speaker at the 2021 Rheumatology Nurses Society annual conference.

Approximately 18% of patients in a rheumatic disease registry used cannabis in 2019, up from 6.3% in 2014, with the highest prevalence occurring in states where its use is legal, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research.

This past spring, two studies shed light on how some of the largest clinician organizations and publishers in rheumatology, including the American College of Rheumatology and EULAR, have failed to provide adequate training materials or clear guidelines when it comes to caring for patients of color.

Patients with chronic non-inflammatory musculoskeletal disease often experience sexual dysfunction and negative effects on their relationships because of their condition, according to a meta-analysis published in Arthritis Care & Research.

To avoid perpetuating misinformation regarding rheumatic diseases, rheumatologists should ensure they are aware of the available evidence – or lack thereof – for some of the popular myths patient hold about their disease, noted a speaker at the EULAR 2021 Congress.

Patients who received rheumatology care from nurse practitioners or physician assistants rated their overall experience similarly to those who saw a rheumatologist, according to survey data published in Arthritis Care & Research.

Rituximab was associated with more severe COVID-19 in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, according to data published in The Lancet Rheumatology.

Patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease, but especially those with autoimmune conditions, as well as those treated with rituximab, may be at greater risk for severe COVID-19 pneumonia than the general population, according to data.

Patient voices are growing louder in rheumatology. The calls for shared decision-making and a dual target strategy of assessing disease remission are increasing with a body of evidence showing that when patient needs are met, outcomes improve.

Patients’ response to anti-CTLA-4 or anti-PD-1 checkpoint therapy for advanced melanoma, and their incidence of immune-related adverse events of grade 3 or higher, were similar regardless of preexisting autoimmune disease, according to data.