Objective: to evaluate the adherence to therapy and treatment outcomes in patients with spondylitis (SpA) in which activity of the disease managed remotely. Material and Methods. 193 patients with axial SpA were randomized into 3 groups with the different ways of the disease activity monitoring: 96 patients were managed in free way, 26 patients visited rheumatologist every 12 weeks, 69 patients managed remotely — we called them every 4 weeks. After the first year of follow up we made 3-month break in the telephone monitoring. The data on the treatment and SpA activity (indexes BASDAI, PASS, ESR, CRP) were collected. Results. In patients managed in a free way SpA activity was severe after a year. In groups managed remotely and once in 3 month the significant reduction in the disease activity was achieved with maximal decrease in remote monitoring group. Positive PASS group 3 was found in 15 patients (57.69%, n=26), in group 2 — in 4 patients (20%, n=20), in group 1 — no patients (0%). NSAIDs intake was arbitrarily changed by 5 (19.23%, n=26), 15(75%, n=20), and 93(96.87%, n=96) patients of groups 3, 2 and 1, respectively. After a 3- month break in remote monitoring in 13 patients with initial BASDAI>4 disease activity significantly increased, in 33 patients with BASDAK4 disease activity decreased. 17 (51.5%) patients independently changed the drug intake regimen after the break in monitoring. Conclusion. Remote monitoring is associated with better adherence to therapy and the best results of treatment of patients with SpA than the other modes of observation. Remote monitoring frequency must be determined individually.
Akulova A.l., Gaydukova I.Z. Remote monitoring in patients with spondylitis // Saratov Journal of Medical Scientific Research, Vol. 10, Issue 2, 2014, pp. 314-317