WAITING TIMES FOR RHEUMATOLOGY CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES IN LATVIA.

Gaidīšanas laiks līdz reimatologu aprūpei pacientiem ar reimatiskajām saslimšanām Latvijā. (Latvian)

Introduction. The impact and burden of rheumatic diseases (RD) on overall world population health in terms of death and disability are growing. Timely rheumatology care is crucial because it increases early exposure to treatment, improves patient outcomes, therefore, reduces the global disease burden. Aim. The aim of this study was to quantify waiting times to primary and rheumatology care. Materials and methods. First-time rheumatic out-patients were asked to fill out the questionnaire in order to identify sociodemographic characteristics, duration of each phase of the care pathway and reasons for delayed care. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used to determine differences in wait times in each phase of the care pathway by patients' gender, place of residence and clinical diagnosis. Results. The total of 45 first-time referral out-patients completed the questionnaires, 34 (75.6%) were female. The mean age at the time of referral was 56.4 (SD 10.8) years. 28 patients (62.2%) were not satisfied with the duration of time from symptom onset to rheumatologist consultation. The main reason for delayed first rheumatology care encounter was: long waiting times (89%). The median wait time from symptom onset to primary care encounter was 30 (IQR 7-90) days, the median waiting time from referral to rheumatologist consultation was 90 (IQR 30-150) days. No statistically significant differences were found in wait times in each phase of the care pathway by gender, place of residence and clinical diagnosis. Conclusions. Wait times to see a rheumatologist in Latvia exceeded acceptable benchmarks. Therefore, improving timely access is critical and pressing, targeted efforts are needed to improve it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ievads. Kopējā pasaules populācijā reimatisko saslimšanu (RS) ietekme un slogs uz mirstību un nespēju pieaug. Savlaicīga reimatologu aprūpe ir izšķiroša, jo tā paātrina terapijas uzsākšanu, uzlabo pacienta iznākumus, tādejādi samazinot globālo saslimšanas slogu. Mērķis. Šī darba mērķis bija noteikt gaidīšanas laiku līdz primārajai un reimatologu aprūpei. Materiāli un metodes. Pirmreizējiem reimatoloģiskajiem ambulatorajiem pacientiem tika lūgts izpildīt anketu, lai identificētu sociodemogrāfiskos raksturlielumus, katra aprūpes ceļa posma ilgumu un iemeslus novēlotai aprūpei. Aprakstošā statistika un neparametriskie testi tika pielietoti, lai noteiktu iespējamās atšķirības gaidīšanas laikos katrā aprūpes ceļa posmā pēc dzimuma, dzīvesvietas un klīniskās diagnozes. Rezultāti. Kopā 45 pirmreizējie nosūtītie ambulatorie pacienti izpildīja anketas, 34 (75.6%) bija sievietes. Vidējais vecums nosūtīšanas laikā bija 56.4 (SD 10.8) gadi. 28 pacienti (62.2%) nebija apmierināti ar laika ilgumu no simptomu sākuma līdz reimatologa konsultācijai. Vidējais gaidīšanas ilgums no simptomu sākuma līdz primārajai aprūpei bija 30 (IQR 7-90) dienas, vidējais gaidīšanas ilgums no nosūtījuma līdz reimatologa konsultācijai bija 90 (IQR 30-150) dienas. Netika atrasta statistiski ticama atšķirība starp gaidīšanas laikiem katrā aprūpes ceļa posmā pēc dzimuma, dzīvesvietas un klīniskās diagnozes. Secinājumi. Gaidīšanas laiki, lai tiktos ar raimatologu Latvijā pārsniedza pieņemtos kritērijus. Tādēļ savlaicīgas piekļuves nodrošināšana ir būtiska un steidzama, ir nepieciešamas mērķētas pūles, lai to uzlabotu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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