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Catherine Alexis Sims

Catherine Alexis Sims

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology
catherine.sims@duke.edu
200 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710

Selected Publications

Pregnancy and Vasculitis

Chapter · June 1, 2026 Full text Cite

Serum BAFF levels in pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Journal Article Lupus · April 2026 Background/PurposeThe B cell Activating Factor (BAFF) signaling pathway influences rheumatic disease through its role in the selection, maturation, and survival of B cells. Increased BAFF also correlates with hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnant women ... Full text Link to item Cite

Characterizing Intervention Components and Complexity of Nonpharmacologic Healthcare Interventions to Manage Distress Behaviors in Older Adults.

Journal Article J Appl Gerontol · January 2026 Distress behaviors are common in residential care settings and contribute to staff burnout and poor quality of life for older adults. While nonpharmacologic interventions reduce distress behaviors, implementation in routine care remains challenging. Our st ... Full text Link to item Cite

Smoking Cessation Screening and Treatment Among Veterans With Multiple Sclerosis.

Journal Article Mil Med · September 1, 2025 INTRODUCTION: Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States and disproportionately affects veterans. While smoking cessation is the goal for all veterans, it is especially critical for veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS; ... Full text Link to item Cite

Moving the ACR's Reproductive Health Guidelines Into Practice: A Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of a Novel Reproductive Rheumatology ECHO.

Journal Article J Clin Rheumatol · August 1, 2025 BACKGROUND: Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) links experts with community providers through video teleconferences that include both didactics and case discussions. We piloted the first ECHO with a specific focus on reproductive rh ... Full text Link to item Cite

Experiences Receiving and Delivering Virtual Health Care For Women: Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.

Journal Article J Med Internet Res · May 15, 2025 BACKGROUND: Persisting sex- and gender-based disparities in access to high-quality, personalized health care in the United States can lead to devastating outcomes with long-lasting consequences. Strategic use of virtual resources could expand equitable hea ... Full text Link to item Cite

An Evidence Map of the Women Veterans' Health Literature, 2016 to 2023: A Systematic Review.

Journal Article JAMA Netw Open · April 1, 2025 IMPORTANCE: Women veterans are the fastest-growing veteran subpopulation in the US. Women veterans often experience military service-related health issues in addition to conditions common to all women. Because women veterans are more likely to receive care ... Full text Link to item Cite

Reproductive Outcomes for Women With Vasculitis.

Journal Article J Rheumatol · October 1, 2024 OBJECTIVE: There are limited data on the reproductive health of women with vasculitis. This study used a prospective, international vasculitis pregnancy registry to survey women during and after pregnancy. METHODS: The Vasculitis Pregnancy Registry (VPREG) ... Full text Link to item Cite

Exploring Reproductive Experiences With Women Enrolled in the International Vasculitis Pregnancy Registry.

Journal Article J Rheumatol · October 1, 2024 OBJECTIVE: This study explored the reproductive journeys of women with vasculitis, including their conversations with healthcare providers, disease activity, medication changes, and delivery experiences. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with women regist ... Full text Link to item Cite

Impact of Antiphospholipid Syndrome on Reproductive Outcomes: Current Insights and Management Approaches.

Journal Article Semin Reprod Med · September 2024 Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a disease characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies, thrombosis, and obstetric complications. While patients with APS can have successful pregnancies, many important considerations exist. APS can ... Full text Link to item Cite

Evaluating Factors Associated With Telehealth Appropriateness in Outpatient Rheumatoid Arthritis Encounters Using the Encounter Appropriateness Score for You (EASY).

Journal Article J Rheumatol · August 1, 2024 OBJECTIVE: Telehealth has been proposed as a safe and effective alternative to in-person care for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors associated with telehealth appropriateness in outpatient RA encounters. METHODS: ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

Azathioprine metabolite levels and outcomes during pregnancies with rheumatic disease.

Journal Article Lupus Sci Med · January 3, 2024 OBJECTIVE: Despite widespread use of azathioprine (AZA) during pregnancy, no studies evaluated the impact of pregnancy on AZA metabolites 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) and 6-methylmercaptopurine nucleotide (6-MMPN) disposition in rheumatic diseases. Thi ... Full text Link to item Cite

Strategies for enhancing the representation of women in clinical trials: an evidence map.

Journal Article Syst Rev · January 2, 2024 BACKGROUND: Equitable sex- and gender-based representation in clinical trials is an essential step to ensuring evidence-based care for women. While multi-institutional actions have led to significant improvements in the inclusion of women in trials, inequi ... Full text Link to item Cite

Health Care Team Interventions to Reduce Distress Behaviors in Older Adults: A Systematic Review.

Journal Article Clin Gerontol · 2024 OBJECTIVES: This review examines health care team-focused interventions on managing persistent or recurrent distress behaviors among older adults in long-term residential or inpatient health care settings. METHODS: We searched interventions addressing heal ... Full text Link to item Cite

Pregnancy Outcomes of Women Veterans with Autoimmune Disease.

Journal Article Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle) · 2024 BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Women Veterans (WV) are exposed to unique risk factors for the development of autoimmune diseases (AID), which can increase risk of pregnancy complications. To characterize pregnancy outcomes in this population, our team performed a d ... Full text Link to item Cite

The impact of pregnancy planning and medical readiness on reproductive outcomes in women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Journal Article Lupus · December 2023 Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who get pregnant while SLE is active or while on teratogens have higher risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Reproductive Health Guidelines recommend women conceive when S ... Full text Link to item Cite

Hospital Admissions and Mortality in Patients With Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

Journal Article J Clin Rheumatol · September 1, 2023 BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis has reported hospital mortality rates ranging between 10% and 20% with inadequate information regarding causes and outcomes of these hospitalizations. Characterization of out ... Full text Link to item Cite

Vasculitis and Pregnancy: Disease State and Management.

Journal Article Rheum Dis Clin North Am · August 2023 Family planning in women with vasculitis requires an interdisciplinary approach. This article summarizes recommendations and guidance for each phase of family planning in persons with vasculitis including preconception counseling, birth control, pregnancy, ... Full text Link to item Cite

Optimizing the Equitable Deployment of Virtual Care for Women: Protocol for a Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Examining Patient and Provider Perspectives Supplemented with Primary Qualitative Data.

Journal Article Health Equity · 2023 INTRODUCTION: Women experience numerous barriers to patient-centered health care (e.g., lack of continuity). Such barriers are amplified for women from marginalized communities. Virtual care may improve equitable access. We are conducting a partner-engaged ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

A comprehensive guide for managing the reproductive health of patients with vasculitis.

Journal Article Nat Rev Rheumatol · December 2022 Vasculitides and their therapies affect all areas of the reproductive life cycle. The ACR, EULAR and the Drugs and Lactation database offer guidance on the management of the reproductive health of patients with rheumatic diseases; however, these guidelines ... Full text Link to item Cite

Moving the ACR’s Reproductive Health Guidelines into Practice: assessment of a Reproductive Rheumatology ECHO.

Conference Moving the ACR’s Reproductive Health Guidelines into Practice: assessment of a Reproductive Rheumatology ECHO. ... Cite