When you have rheumatoid arthritis, getting the right diagnosis is the first step to getting the right treatment. But what if your doctor could find you faster by looking at your health records? A new review of 35 studies looked at how well different methods work to identify people with rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis using electronic health records and insurance claims.
The researchers found that the most accurate method combined a diagnosis code with a prescription for a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. This approach correctly identified 79% of true cases and ruled out 96% of people who didn't have the condition. Even better, when a rheumatologist assigned the diagnosis code, the accuracy jumped to 91% sensitivity and 94% specificity.
But there's a catch. The studies varied a lot in how they were done, which makes it hard to compare results across different health systems. The authors say more work is needed to confirm which methods work best in different settings. Still, for now, these findings can help researchers and doctors use health records more reliably to study and care for people with arthritis.