International expert agreement on World Scleroderma Foundation/Heart Failure Association consensus-based definition and guidance on screening, diagnosis, and follow-up assessment of systemic sclerosis–associated primary heart involvement
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of agreement among international experts on the World Scleroderma Foundation/Heart Failure Association consensus-based definition of systemic sclerosis-associated primary heart involvement (SSc-pHI) and on the guidance for its screening, diagnosis, and follow-up assessment, including feasibility and applicability assessments. METHODS: ). The weblink to the survey was shared with 1199 participants worldwide. A high level of agreement was defined by an average score over 7/10. RESULTS: In total, 161 external experts completed the survey. Most of them were rheumatologists (80.7%), working in Europe (81.4%), and had > 10 years of clinical experience in managing SSc patients (59%). Overall agreement among external experts was high (mean 8.27, SD 1.86). The highest scores regarded items emphasizing the involvement of a multidisciplinary team, personalization of patient management, and initial evaluation techniques. A lower level of agreement was obtained in questions related to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and endomyocardial biopsy. No factors associated with low level of agreement and feasibility/applicability were identified. CONCLUSION: The consensus-based definition and guidance on screening, diagnosis, and follow-up assessment of SSc-pHI provides a basis for application by the wider community. A lower level of agreement on the use of advanced or more invasive diagnostic techniques likely reflects regional differences in access and the need for more evidence on its use. This emphasizes the importance of involving a multidisciplinary team.
Institutions: National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, National Scientific Center "M.D. Strazhesko Institute of Cardiology", Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, University of Belgrade, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Raffaele, University of Florence
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Wellcome Trust
OpenAlex ID: W4408678712