Quality and continuity of information between primary care physicians and rheumatologists

BMC Rheumatology

Table 1 General Details Provided by PCPs on Referral Letters, %

Diagnosis	Reason for referral	Urgent Consult Needed	Medical history	Family history	Medication history	Employment history	Relevant Laboratory Results
All patients n = 2430	98.9	8.7	55.2	16.1	56.9	12.8	51.2
Systemic inflammatory n = 745	99.2	14.0	56.6	18.7	62.8	12.8	66.0
RA n = 120	99.2	20.8	52.5	20.0	70.8	13.3	76.7
IA, other n = 167	100.0	13.8	53.9	19.2	63.5	18.0	72.5
Crystal n = 122	100.0	13.1	64.8	16.4	76.2	11.5	50.0
PMR n = 66	100.0	12.1	56.1	NR	65.2	NR	75.8
SpA n = 76	97.4	11.8	51.3	17.1	46.1	17.1	52.6
PsA n = 44	93.2	NR	63.6	13.6	50.0	13.6	56.8
Other SARDs^b n = 150	100.0	12.7	57.3	26.0	56.0	8.0	68.7
Osteoarthritis n = 787	98.4	5.2	48.4	15.4	53.8	13.5	45.1
Regional MSK syndromes n = 395	98.7	4.6	51.7	10.4	49.9	11.4	30.9
Chronic pain conditions n = 346	99.4	9.5	52.3	17.9	54.1	15.9	55.2
Osteoporosis/osteopenia n = 45	100.0	NR	73.3	13.3	80.0	NR	20.0
Other/miscellaneous^a n = 112	98.2	10.7	67.0	20.5	64.3	7.1	67.9

Abbreviations: RA rheumatoid arthritis, IA inflammatory arthritis, NR not reportable (to protect patient privacy), PMR polymyalgia rheumatica, SpA spondyloarthritis, PsA psoriatic arthritis, SARDs systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, MSK musculoskeletal
^aMiscellaneous referrals such as abnormal tests
Values are the percentage with the denominator being the N within each diagnosis category
^bSARDs include lupus, vasculitis, scleroderma, Sjögren’s syndrome, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, sarcoidosis, etc. (not defined in the previous categories)

ISSN: 2520-1026