Healthcare utilization for musculoskeletal issues during the prediagnosis period in psoriatic arthritis: a population-based study

Objective — Information about the pre-diagnosis period in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is limited. We compared healthcare utilization related to musculoskeletal issues during a 5-year period prior to the diagnosis of PsA versus subjects with no prior inflammatory arthritis within a primary care setting.

Methods — We conducted a population-based, matched cohort study using electronic medical records and administrative data in Ontario, Canada. Age- and sex-matched cohorts of PsA patients and comparators from the same family physicians were assembled. Comparators were not allowed to have prior spondyloarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or rheumatoid arthritis billing code diagnoses. The study outcomes included healthcare utilization and costs related to non-specific musculoskeletal issues during a 5-year period prior to the index date.

Results — We studied 462 PsA patients and 2310 matched comparators. The odds ratio (OR) related to visiting a primary care physician for nonspecific musculoskeletal issues in patients with PsA was 2.14 (95% CI 1.73, 2.64) in the year immediately preceding the index date and was similarly elevated up to 5 years prior. The OR related to using other musculoskeletal-related healthcare services, including musculoskeletal specialists visits, joint injections, joint imaging, and emergency department visits, were higher in PsA as early as 5 years preceding the index date. Total and musculoskeletal-related healthcare costs prior to the index date were higher in patients with PsA versus comparators.

Conclusion — A prodromal PsA phase, characterized by non-specific musculoskeletal symptoms may exist. Further study is needed to determine if this represents a window for earlier diagnosis of PsA.