title: Compliance with NICE guidance on the use of anti-TNFalpha agents in ankylosing spondylitis: an east and west Midlands regional audit.
abstract: Here we report on an audit performed to examine compliance with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for the use of anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFalpha) in treating patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Data from 17 rheumatology centres across the Midlands were collected prospectively from patients with AS attending outpatient clinics and retrospectively in patients receiving anti-TNFalpha but not attending outpatient clinics during the audit. In total, 80% of the 416 patients for whom data were collected were male. Of the 238 patients recruited prospectively, 41% were receiving anti-TNFalpha. Reviewing all patients on anti-TNFalpha (N=275), pre-treatment assessments 12 weeks apart were documented in 55% of patients. After anti-TNFalpha treatment had started, regular 12-weekly assessments occurred in 46% of patients. Therefore, compliance with NICE guidance was found to vary among centres. Based on our audit, clinical capacity, and clinical or patient choice might be influencing the suboptimal adherence seen in assessment timing suggested by NICE guidelines relating to the use of anti-TNFalpha in treating patients with AS.
authors.affiliation: Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham. frees@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peffers
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Obrenovic
authors.forename: Ravinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Packham
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha