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Aim: Discrepancies exist between international treatment guidelines and current Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) criteria for funding biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) prescribing in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We aimed to determine the prevalence of minimal disease activity (MDA) achievement and differences in inflammatory marker levels between PsA patients who have and have not met the Australian PBS criteria for bDMARDs. Method: Consecutive participants diagnosed with PsA were assessed for MDA components and serum inflammatory markers. For those on bDMARDs, joint counts and inflammatory markers at the time of bDMARD qualification were compared with matched rheumatoid arthritis (RA) controls. Results: Minimal disease activity was achieved by 56/105 participants overall. There were no differences in inflammatory marker levels or involved joint count patterns between the PsA and RA groups at the time of bDMARD qualification. Seventy‐three percent of the 53 PsA patients on bDMARD achieved MDA, vs 33% in the non‐bDMARD group (P < 0.001). More bDMARD than non‐bDMARD patients achieved four out of seven MDA components. Of those with any enthesitis, its prevalence was higher in the non‐bDMARD group (22 vs 10, P = 0.009). Regardless of treatment, there was no difference in inflammatory marker levels between those who did and did not achieve MDA. Conclusion: The Australian PBS criteria, funding bDMARD prescribing for PsA, select well for MDA achievers. A high prevalence of MDA non‐achievement remains in patients ineligible for bDMARD funding, and enthesitis in this population is more common. Inflammatory markers were not discriminators between treatment or MDA achievement groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the prevalence, correlates and impact of shoulder pain in a population-based sample. Methods: The North West Adelaide Health Study is a representative longitudinal cohort study of people aged 18 years and over. The original sample was randomly selected and recruited by telephone interview. Overall, 3206 participants returned to the clinic during the second stage (2004–2006) and were asked to report whether they had pain, aching or stiffness on most days in either of their shoulders. Data was also collected on body mass index; shoulder range of motion, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors; the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF36) was used. Results: Overall, 22.3% of participants indicated that they had pain, aching or stiffness in either of their shoulders. Women, those aged 50 years and over, current smokers and those classified as obese were all significantly more likely to report shoulder pain. Respondents with shoulder pain scored lower on all domains of the SF36. In those with shoulder symptoms, women had more severe pain and worse shoulder function than men, and older people had worse shoulder function than younger people. Conclusion: Shoulder pain affects almost a quarter of people in the Australian community, with a significant detrimental impact on health-related quality of life and physical functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]