Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Real-World Adherence to Systemic Sclerosis Quality Indicators: A Single-Center Quality of Care Study
Authors' conclusion
Despite strong baseline adherence, major gaps persist in longitudinal monitoring, documentation, and rehabilitation, highlighting key targets for quality improvement.
Study context
- Population
- All patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) managed at a tertiary SSc clinic, January 2016–December 2024mean age 46.2 years, 92% female
- Participants
- 66 patients
- Outcome
- Adherence to baseline and longitudinal SSc quality indicators
Methodological detailssingle-centre, multivariable logistic regression
- Single-centre
- Multivariable logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Adherence to SSc quality indicators
- Baseline screening: high-resolution CT
- 86%
- Baseline screening: transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)
- 84%
- Baseline treatment: vasodilator therapy for active digital ulcers
- 100%
- Annual pulmonary function testing
- 35%
- Follow-up TTE after new decline in DLCO
- 36%
- Dyspnea documentation
- 63%
- Chest auscultation
- 27%
- Annual modified Rodnan skin score
- 19%
- Physical therapy referral
- 37%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Predictors of lower adherence (multivariable logistic regression)
- Older age, longer disease duration, diffuse cutaneous subtype and pulmonary hypertension independently predicted lower adherence
Original publication
Real-World Adherence to Systemic Sclerosis Quality Indicators: A Single-Center Quality of Care Study. J Rheumatol. Published 15 March 2026. doi:10.
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