Objective The implementation of value‐based health care in inflammatory arthritis requires a standardized set of modifiable outcomes and risk‐adjustment variables that is feasible to implement worldwide. Methods The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) assembled a multidisciplinary working group that consisted of 24 experts from 6 continents, including 6 patient representatives, to develop a standard set of outcomes for inflammatory arthritis. The process followed a structured approach, using a modified Delphi process to reach consensus on the following decision areas: conditions covered by the set, outcome domains, outcome measures, and risk‐adjustment variables. Consensus in areas 2 to 4 were supported by systematic literature reviews and consultation of experts. Results The ICHOM Inflammatory Arthritis Standard Set covers patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We recommend that outcomes regarding pain, fatigue, activity limitations, overall physical and mental health impact, work/school/housework ability and productivity, disease activity, and serious adverse events be collected at least annually. Validated measures for patient‐reported outcomes were endorsed and linked to common reporting metrics. Age, sex at birth, education level, smoking status, comorbidities, time since diagnosis, and rheumatoid factor and anti‐citrullinated protein antibody lab testing for RA and JIA should be collected as risk‐adjustment variables. Conclusion We present the ICHOM inflammatory arthritis Standard Set of outcomes, which enables health care providers to implement the value‐based health care framework and compare outcomes that are important to patients with inflammatory arthritis.

BackgroundValue-based health care (VBHC) is a framework for improving efficiency of healthcare in which competition on value for patients is the central concept. Public reporting of patient outcomes by healthcare providers is proposed as a mechanism that will accelerate identification and adoption of innovations that increase value, through shared learning and sparking competition on outcomes that matter to patients. A key barrier to the implementation of VBHC in inflammatory arthritis (IA) is the absence of a universally accepted set of patient outcomes and risk adjustment variables that are appropriate and feasible to implement in different healthcare systems worldwide.MethodsThe International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) assembled a multidisciplinary international working group (WG), consisting of 24 experts, including six patient representatives, to develop a standard set of patient-centred outcomes for IA. The process followed a structured approach using a modified Delphi process to reach consensus on 1) medical conditions to be covered by the set, 2) outcome domains, 3) outcome measures, 4) case mix variables and – definitions. Each step was supported by systematic literature reviews and consultation of (external) experts on the topic under consideration.ResultsThe WG decided to include rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis in the IA Standard Set. Twenty-four outcome domains were initially identified in the 130 randomised trial reports and 28 qualitative studies that were found in the systematic literature reviews. Ultimately, pain, fatigue, activity limitations, overall physical and mental wellbeing, work/school/housework ability and productivity, inflammatory disease activity including therapeutic response (i.e. has the patient achieved the treatment target?), and serious adverse events were included. The measurement properties of 21 patient-reported outcome measures were assessed for all of the included domains. 20 of these were linked to an item response theory-based common reporting metric. This allows users of the ICHOM IA set to choose their preferred instrument while allowing comparison of outcomes. A number of risk adjustment variables and time points for collection were recommended to allow global benchmarking.ConclusionsWe present the ICHOM standard set of outcomes for Inflammatory Arthritis, that we encourage providers of care to implement to facilitate global comparison of outcome data and stimulate shared learning.Disclosure of InterestNone declared