Background: Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is a highly prevalent rheumatic disease that predominates in females and causes pain and loss of functional capacity. Obesity and metabolic syndrome have been... Show moreBackground: Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is a highly prevalent rheumatic disease that predominates in females and causes pain and loss of functional capacity. Obesity and metabolic syndrome have been previously suggested to associate with the severity of HOA, but clarity on these associations is yet to be achieved.Objective: Test the association between obesity and other components of the metabolic syndrome and disability in women with hand osteoarthritis (HOA).Design: Individuals from EpiReumaPt epidemiological community-based study (2011-2013) are representative of the Portuguese population. Women with diagnosis of primary HOA were included.Primary outcome: hand functional status, assessed by Cochin questionnaire.Secondary outcomes: hand pain, assessed by visual analogue scale and tender hand joint count (THJ).Explanatory variables: obesity, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Possible associations between obesity and the other components of metabolic syndrome with Cochin score, hand pain and THJ were tested in a multivariable linear regression model.Potential confounders considered: age, education level and countrywide distribution.Results: 473 women with primary HOA were included. Forty percent were overweight and 29% obese. Ninety-three (19.8%) participants had diabetes, 261 (55.8%) reported hypertension and 261 (55.9%) hypercholesterolemia. Mean Cochin score was 15.5 +/- 14.8, mean pain VAS was 4.7 +/- 2.6 and mean THJ 1.4 +/- 3. In the multivariable analysis, obesity (beta 4.6 CI 0.7;8.5) and diabetes (beta 4.0 CI 0.4;7.6) were found to significantly associate with HOA functional disability. In addition, diabetes, but not obesity, associated with hand pain. There was no association between obesity or diabetes with THJ.Conclusion: In a Portuguese female population with primary HOA, obesity and diabetes mellitus independently associated with a worse hand functional status. These data add to evidence suggesting a role of metabolic factors in the severity of HOA. Show less
Spiliopoulou, A.; Colombo, M.; Plant, D.; Nair, N.; Cui, J.; Coenen, M.J.H.; ... ; McKeigue, P. 2019
Objective. To develop an algorithm for identification of undifferentiated peripheral inflammatory arthritis (UPIA). Methods. An algorithm for identification of UPIA was developed by consensus... Show moreObjective. To develop an algorithm for identification of undifferentiated peripheral inflammatory arthritis (UPIA). Methods. An algorithm for identification of UPIA was developed by consensus during a roundtable meeting with an expert panel. It was informed by systematic reviews of the literature used to generate 10 recommendations for the investigation and followup of UPIA through the 3e initiative. The final recommendations from the 3e UPIA Initiative were made available to the panel to guide development of the algorithm. The algorithm drew on the clinical experience of the consensus panel and evidence from the literature where available. Results. In patients presenting with joint swelling a thorough evaluation is required prior to diagnosing UPIA. After excluding trauma, the differential diagnosis should be formulated based on history and physical examination. A minimum set of investigations is suggested for all patients, with additional ones dependent on the most probable differential diagnoses. The diagnosis of UPIA can be made if, following these evaluations, a more specific diagnosis is not reached. Once a diagnosis of UPIA is established, patients should be closely followed as they may progress to a specific diagnosis, remit, or persist as UPIA, and additional investigations may be required over time. Conclusion. Our algorithm presents a diagnostic approach to identifying UPIA in patients presenting with joint swelling, incorporating the dynamic nature of the condition with the potential to evolve over time. (J Rheumatol 2011;38 Suppl 87:54-58; doi:10.3899/jrheum.101076) Show less
