Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (CPPD) Disease Label and Illness Perceptions Study

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Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease is one of the most common forms of inflammatory arthritis, with prevalence estimates of 4-7% in Europe and the United States. Despite being a common condition, the nomenclature of CPPD disease remains confusing, with many different labels used interchangeably to describe the condition. Whilst ‘CPPD disease’ is the term that has been recommended by the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) since 2011, ‘pseudogout’ remains a popular term amongst clinicians, including rheumatologists. A diagnostic label of ‘pseudogout’ may be troublesome, however, as it could be misinterpreted by patients as gout, a condition that is plagued by inaccurate lay views – often considered an embarrassing, self-inflicted condition caused by over-indulgence in food and alcohol. Previous research in gout has demonstrated that disease labels can have a significant impact on illness perceptions, and beliefs about causes and management strategies for an illness. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate how the different labels, ‘pseudogout’ versus ‘CPPD disease’, affect perceptions of this condition and its management. We hypothesise that the pseudogout-labelled illness would be considered a more socially embarrassing condition and attributed to poor diet, due to similarities of this label with gout. By understanding how different labels for CPPD disease affect perceptions of the condition, we can improve how we communicate with patients and the general public about CPPD disease. We expect that findings from the study will be used to inform CPPD disease labels used in clinical practice in the future.

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