Estimation of the burden of shielding among a cross-section of patients attending rheumatology clinics with SLE-data from the BSR audit of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: We aimed to estimate what proportion of people with SLE attending UK rheumatology clinics would be categorized as being at high risk from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and therefore asked to shield, and explore what implications this has for rheumatology clinical practice.

Methods: We used data from the British Society for Rheumatology multicentre audit of SLE, which included a large, representative cross-sectional sample of patients attending UK Rheumatology clinics with SLE. We calculated who would receive shielding advice using the British Society for Rheumatology's risk stratification guidance and accompanying scoring grid, and assessed whether ethnicity and history of nephritis were over-represented in the shielding group.

BSR guideline on the management of adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) 2018: baseline multi-centre audit in the UK.

Objectives: To assess the baseline care provided to patients with SLE attending UK Rheumatology units, audited against standards derived from the recently published BSR guideline for the management of adults with SLE, the NICE technology appraisal for belimumab, and NHS England's clinical commissioning policy for rituximab.

Methods: SLE cases attending outpatient clinics during any 4-week period between February and June 2018 were retrospectively audited to assess care at the preceding visit. The effect of clinical environment (general vs dedicated CTD/vasculitis clinic and specialized vs non-specialized centre) were tested.

Outcomes and compliance with standards of care in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis-insights from a large multiregion audit.

Objectives: We aimed to conduct a large audit of routine care for patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Methods: We invited all 34 hospitals within one health region in England to undertake a retrospective case note audit of all patients newly diagnosed or treated with CYC or rituximab (RTX) for ANCA-associated vasculitis from April 2013 to December 2014. We compared clinical practice to the British Society for Rheumatology guidelines for the management of adults with ANCA-associated vasculitis and the use of RTX with the National Health Service (NHS) England commissioning policy and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal.

Management of gout by UK rheumatologists: a British Society for Rheumatology national audit.

Objectives: To assess the concordance of gout management by UK rheumatologists with evidence-based best-practice recommendations.

Methods: Data were collected on patients newly referred to UK rheumatology out-patient departments over an 8-week period. Baseline data included demographics, method of diagnosis, clinical features, comorbidities, urate-lowering therapy (ULT), prophylaxis and blood tests.

The perplexity of prescribing and switching of biologic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis: a UK regional audit of practice.

Background: Biologic drugs are expensive treatments used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Switching among them is common practice in patients who have had an inadequate response or intolerable adverse events. The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) UK, which aims to curtail postcode prescribing, has provided guidance on the sequential prescription of these drugs.