Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Impact of a rapid access strategy on referral rates, diagnosis, and glucocorticoid initiation in suspected polymyalgia rheumatica
Authors' conclusion
Implementation of a RAS clinic for individuals with suspected PMR increased referral rates, while modestly reducing the proportion diagnosed with PMR, and lowered the proportion of individuals initiating GCs before evaluation.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with suspected polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)
- Exposure
- Rapid access strategy (RAS) clinic vs traditional referral approach
- Outcome
- GC initiation before rheumatological evaluation
Methodological detailssingle-centre, historical cohort comparison
- Single-centre
- Historical cohort comparison
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Fewer individuals in the RAS cohort initiated glucocorticoids (GCs) before evaluation than in the historical cohort
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
%
| Outcome | RAS | Historical |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion diagnosed with PMR at evaluationModest change | 70 (95% CI 62–77) | 59 (95% CI 52–65) |
| Evaluated within one week | 55 (95% CI 49–62) | 36 (95% CI 28–44) |
| Evaluated within two weeks | 89 (95% CI 84–92) | 75 (95% CI 67–81) |
Referral rates
- Referral rates almost doubled after the RAS clinic was implemented
Subclinical GCA
- The proportion with subclinical GCA remained low
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Impact of a rapid access strategy on referral rates, diagnosis, and glucocorticoid initiation in suspected polymyalgia rheumatica. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 17 July 2025. doi:10.
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