Rheumatoid interstitial lung disease in Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand - A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), is an important extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The frequency, risk factors, and prognosis of RA-ILD are incompletely understood.

Aims: To determine the prevalence and incidence, clinical characteristics and risk factors for development, and outcomes of persons with RA-ILD in the population of the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) catchment area.

Care of patients with early inflammatory arthritis in the Wellington region according to the British Society of Rheumatology's best practice tariff standards.

Aim: To compare the care of patients with suspected early inflammatory arthritis (EIA) in the Wellington region with the quality standards from the British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) 2013/14 best practice tariffs.

Methods: The case notes for patients first seen in clinic from the beginning of 2015 were reviewed until at least 100 cases of suspected inflammatory arthritis were identified. Data gathered included the length of time from referral to first specialist rheumatology clinic, the length of time from referral to the commencement of disease modifying therapy for cases of inflammatory arthritis and the number of specialist-led clinics within the first 12 months of the first appointment.