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

Lucy M Carter; Caroline Gordon; Chee-Seng Yee; Ian Bruce; David Isenberg; Sarah Skeoch; Edward M Vital

doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keab883

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

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 Oct 6;61(10):4006-4015. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab883.

Authors

Lucy M Carter¹, Caroline Gordon², Chee-Seng Yee³, Ian Bruce⁴, David Isenberg⁵, Sarah Skeoch⁶, Edward M Vital¹

Affiliations

¹ Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds and NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds.
² Rheumatology Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham.
³ Department of Rheumatology, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Doncaster.
⁴ Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester.
⁵ Department of Rheumatology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London and.
⁶ Department of Rheumatology, Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust, Bath, UK.

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.

Keywords: BILAG; assessment; disease activity; index; systemic lupus erythematosus.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biological Products*
Humans
Kidney
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* / diagnosis
Severity of Illness Index

Substances

Biological Products

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding