TARISMA (sub-project 1): Identification of health care pathways and care deficits in multimorbid patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases

As part of the TARISMA (Targeted Risk Management in Musculoskeletal Diseases) research network, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research from 2020 to 2023, we used claims data from the BARMER health insurance to analyse concomitant diseases and medication in people with rheumatic diagnoses.

Among other things, we were able to show that around 2% of people with rheumatoid arthritis have interstitial lung disease. This is a severe and generally rare concomitant disease of rheumatoid arthritis, and the choice of therapy is challenging. Various immunosuppressive drugs have been prescribed, and many sufferers also required glucocorticoids (cortisone) and painkillers. People undergoing rheumatological treatment were more likely to receive therapy with a biologic agent than people without contact to a rheumatologist.