GCA & PMR Research Database

• Research type

  Research Database

• IRAS ID

  316324

• Contact name

  Muhammad Asim Khurshid

• Contact email

  muhammad.khurshid@uhd.nhs.uk

• Research summary

  GCA & PMR Research Database

• REC name

  London - South East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  22/LO/0407

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 Jul 2022

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion

• Data collection arrangements

  Data from all patients over the age of 30 seen in the rapid access Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) clinic at University Hospitals Dorset will be included in the database, unless they have indicated that they do not consent to their data being used for research purposes (via the National data opt-out programme).

  The database will only include routinely-collected data obtained from patient contact with the rapid access GCA service at the hospital. This will include:

  1.Patient demographics
  Age, sex, ethnicity, Index of Deprivation, source of referral, urgency of referral, the referral date, date referral was received and reviewed date.

  2. Additional information
  Smoking status, alcohol consumption, investigations arranged including ultrasound and temporal artery biopsy and PET scan with the results.

  3. Comorbidities
  Patients comorbidities (e.g. other known medical conditions) will be recorded in a tabulated form.

  4. Blood results
  The results of blood tests recorded will include ESR, CRP, haemoglobin, white cell count, neutrophil count, ALT, ALP, EGFR, HbA1c, glucose and ferritin levels.

  Additional blood test results may be recorded when necessary including results of any other immunological and creatine kinase tests conducted.

  5. Pre-scan probability score

  Calculated on the basis of patients clinical features, comorbidities and blood results; prescan probability score will be calculated and recorded. The scoring system was first introduced by the Southend Hospital and is being widely utilised to assess patients with giant cell arteritis.

  6. Symptoms
  Patient's symptoms will be recorded in a tabled form.

  7. Signs
  Clinical signs observed at the time of assessment will be recorded including blood pressure, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) ,temperature, pulse rate, and other clinical signs relevant to the condition.

• Research programme

  Rheumatology patients with a diagnosis of Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) & giant cell arteritis (GCA).

• Research database title

  GCA & PMR Research Database

• Establishment organisation

  University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

• Establishment organisation address

  Longfleet Road

  Poole

  Dorset

  BH15 2JB