OBJECTIVE: To examine the symptoms, signs and additional investigations that general practitioners (GPs) used in the process of diagnosing recent-onset @entity625 . Here, we assumed that the recorded information was crucial in the diagnostic process of @entity625 . METHODS: A database including electronic medical records of 16 Dutch general practices with 44 350 @entity1 was studied. @entity1 with an episode of @entity309 and allied conditions according to the International Classification of Primary Care-1 code L88 (here summarized as @entity625 ) in the period 2009-2013 were selected. Frequencies of symptoms, signs and performed additional investigations were evaluated and compared between referred and non-referred @entity1 . RESULTS: A total of 126 @entity1 were diagnosed with @entity625 . Information on symptom duration, symptom location, @entity4 , loss of function, redness and warmth were recorded in, respectively, 64, 90, 80, 52, 48 and 41% of @entity1 . Information on morning stiffness, family history or the squeeze-test was provided in 20, 18 and 17% of @entity1 . Symmetry, @entity32 and fist closure were not recorded. Acute phase reactants and auto-antibody tests were performed in 40-46% and 8-11%, respectively. Eighty-four @entity1 (67%) were referred to secondary care. Symptoms located in the foot, morning stiffness, family history, @entity925 , absence of redness and elevated acute phase reactants were associated with referral (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: GPs mainly used classical signs of @entity32 to diagnose @entity625 . Other items that are regularly assessed in secondary care (morning stiffness, squeeze-test, family history) were infrequently recorded by GPs.

How do general practitioners identify XXXX ?-A cohort analysis of Dutch general practitioner electronic medical records.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity32 :: ('MESH:D007249', 'Disease') :: ['inflammatory type arthralgia', 'inflammation'] @entity625 :: ('MESH:D001168', 'Disease') :: ['inflammatory arthritis', 'arthritis'] @entity4 :: ('MESH:D004487', 'Disease') :: ['swelling'] @entity925 :: ('MESH:D063806', 'Disease') :: ['myalgia'] @entity309 :: ('MESH:D001172', 'Disease') :: ['RA']
@entity625 :: (MESH:D001168,Disease) :: ['inflammatory arthritis']
