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A treat-to-target (T2T) strategy is a treatment plan in which the clinician treats the patient aggressively enough to reach and maintain explicitly specified and sequentially measured goals. To apply a T2T strategy, some conditions should be met. First, a proactive, clear endpoint should be used and a threshold should be defined. Second, a choice between several effective therapies must be available. Third, the endpoint should be supported by findings from randomised controlled trials supporting early aggressive treatment. Fourth, the strategy should be cost-effective. Finally, it needs to be acceptable by the stakeholders. The objective of this review was to verify if the conditions for applying the T2T strategy were met in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), using a narrative review. Based on the currently available literature, the conditions for applying the T2T in PsA and axSpA were partially met. First, proactive outcome measures are available; however, there is no clear consensus regarding the optimal one. Second, there is a reasonable choice of approved therapies for both diseases. Third, additional randomised controlled trials demonstrating the effectiveness of a T2T approach are still needed. Fourth, cost-effectiveness studies are needed and should include patients from different healthcare systems. Fifth, the implementation of T2T recommendations in routine care and the adherence to its application in clinical practice should be promoted. In summary, preliminary data suggest that T2T might be beneficial to patients with PsA and axSpA. However, further studies are needed to meet all the criteria before strongly advocating for T2T strategies.

Axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) is the prototype of a family of inter-related yet heterogeneous diseases sharing common clinical and genetic manifestations: the spondyloarthritides (SpAs). The condition mainly affects the sacroiliac joints and axial skeleton, and has a clear classification scheme, wider epidemiological data, and distinct therapeutic guidelines when compared with other SpAs. However, the concept of AxSpA has not been immutable over time and has evolved tremendously on many levels over the past decades. This review identifies the evolution of the AxSpA concept at two levels. First, at the level of classification, the old classifications and rationales leading to the current Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) classification are reviewed, and the advantages and drawbacks are discussed. Second, at the therapeutic level, current and future treatments are described and treatment strategies are discussed.

Osteoporosis is one of the leading causes of handicap worldwide and a major contributor to the global burden of diseases. In particular, osteoporosis is associated with excess mortality. We reviewed the impact of osteoporosis on mortality in a population by defining three categories: mortality following hip fractures, mortality following other sites of fractures, and mortality associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Hip fractures, as well as other fractures at major sites are all associated with excess mortality, except at the forearm site. This excess mortality is higher during the first 3-6 months after the fracture and then declines over time, but remains higher than the mortality of the normal population up to 22 years after the fracture. Low BMD is also associated with high mortality, with hazard ratios of around 1.3 for every decrease in 1 standard deviation of bone density at 5 years, independently of fractures, reflecting a more fragile population. Finally predictors of mortality were identified and categorised in demographic known factors (age and male gender) and in factors reflecting a poor general health status such as the number of comorbidities, low mental status, or level of social dependence. Our results indicate that the management of a patient with osteoporosis should include a multivariate approach that could be based on predictive models in the future.