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Easy-BILAG: a new tool for simplified recording of SLE disease activity using BILAG-2004 index

Carter, Lucy M; Gordon, Caroline; Yee, Chee-Seng; Bruce, Ian; Isenberg, David; Skeoch, Sarah; Vital, Edward M; (2022) Easy-BILAG: a new tool for simplified recording of SLE disease activity using BILAG-2004 index. Rheumatology 10.1093/rheumatology/keab883. (In press). Green open access

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: BILAG-2004 index is a comprehensive disease activity instrument for SLE but administrative burden and potential frequency of errors limits its use in routine practice. We aimed to develop a tool for more accurate, time-efficient scoring of BILAG-2004 index with full fidelity to the existing instrument. METHODS: Frequency of BILAG-2004 items was collated from a BILAG-biologics registry (BILAG-BR) dataset. Easy-BILAG prototypes were developed to address known issues affecting speed and accuracy. After expert verification, accuracy and usability of the finalized Easy-BILAG was validated against standard format BILAG-2004 in a workbook exercise of 10 case vignettes. Thirty-three professionals ranging in expertise from 14 UK centres completed the validation exercise. RESULTS: Easy-BILAG incorporates all items present in ≥5% BILAG-BR records, plus full constitutional and renal domains into a rapid single page assessment. An embedded glossary and colour-coding assists domain scoring. A second page captures rarer manifestations when needed. In the validation exercise, Easy-BILAG yielded higher median scoring accuracy (96.7%) than standard BILAG-2004 documentation (87.8%, P = 0.001), with better inter-rater agreement. Easy-BILAG was completed faster (59.5 min) than the standard format (80.0 min, P = 0.04) for 10 cases. An advantage in accuracy was observed with Easy-BILAG use among general hospital rheumatologists (91.3 vs 75.0, P = 0.02), leading to equivalent accuracy as tertiary centre rheumatologists. Clinicians rated Easy-BILAG as intuitive, convenient, and well adapted for routine practice. CONCLUSION: Easy-BILAG facilitates more rapid and accurate scoring of BILAG-2004 across all clinical settings, which could improve patient care and biologics prescribing. Easy-BILAG should be adopted wherever BILAG-2004 assessment is required.

Type: Article
Title: Easy-BILAG: a new tool for simplified recording of SLE disease activity using BILAG-2004 index
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab883
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keab883
Language: English
Additional information: © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).
Keywords: BILAG, assessment, disease activity, index, systemic lupus erythematosus
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine > Inflammation
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10144122
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