title: Characteristics of Patients With Early-Onset Arthritis in Latin America: Description of the REPANARC Cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While many studies have tried to show that early intervention improves the clinical outcomes of early-onset arthritis, only a few were carried out in Latin America.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the Pan-American Registry of Early-Onset Arthritis (REPANARC) project and report the preliminary outcomes of a cohort of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The REPANARC cohort consisted of a sample of patients from 6 Latin American countries. Patients with arthritis of 1 or more joints of 1-year duration or less were assessed by a rheumatologist during 6 consecutive clinical visits for a follow-up period of 2 years. The registry included clinical characteristics, medical history, physical examination, disease activity, analytical chemistries, imaging, current treatment, and a set of patient-reported outcome measures evaluating disability, psychological distress, and quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 173 patients were included with mean age of 41.9 ± 13.2 years; 83.8% were women. The predominant presentations at onset were insidious, polyarticular, additive, bilateral, and symmetrical. The initial diagnoses were rheumatoid arthritis (50.6%), undifferentiated arthritis (40.5%), and other arthritis (8.9%). With Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints, 76.9% had moderate to high disease activity, and 61.9% had moderate to severe disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire). Considering undifferentiated arthritis, 60.3% persisted undifferentiated, 29.4% evolved as rheumatoid arthritis, 4.4% remained self-limited, and 5.9% to other forms. The frequencies of depression and anxiety were high as measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and approximately 20% had significant decrements in quality of life measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 Health Survey Version 2. Mean time from the first symptoms to the first visit to a rheumatologist was 126 days. Shorter delays were confirmed to be associated with better outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The REPANARC project is a useful tool to provide valuable information regarding patients with early-onset arthritis attending rheumatology centers in Latin-America.
authors: From the Departments of *Instituto Nacional de Reumatologia and †Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; ‡Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Centro Médico La Costa, Asunción, Paraguay; and §Quantitative Methods Department and ∥Medical Psychology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la República, Montevideo Uruguay.
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: Ramagli
authors: Inés
authors: I
authors: Corbacho
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Linhares
authors: Paloma
authors: P
authors: de Abreu
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Teijeiro
authors: Mariela
authors: M
authors: Garau
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Dapueto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062072:Patient Acuity; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment