TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of hand symptoms, impairments and activity limitations in rheumatoid arthritis in relation to disease duration
AU - Horsten, Noortje C.A.
AU - Ursum, Jennie
AU - Roorda, Leo D.
AU - Van Schaardenburg, Dirkjan
AU - Dekker, Joost
AU - Hoeksma, Agnes F.
PY - 2010/11
Y1 - 2010/11
N2 - Objective: To determine the prevalence of hand and wrist symptoms and impairments, and the resulting activity limitations in relation to disease duration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Design and patients: A cross-sectional study included 200 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis in 4 categories of disease duration: 2-4, 4-6, 6-8 and ≥ 8 years. Patients were asked about the presence of various hand and wrist symptoms, and underwent a standardized physical examination. To evaluate activity limitations, patients completed the Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire and scored their limitations on a Numerical Rating Scale (0=no to 10=maximum limitation). Results: Of all patients, 94% suffered from at least one symptom, and 67% had at least one impairment, mostly from the earliest stages onwards. The median standardized Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand score (interquartile range) was 26.7 (10.8-12.5). The mean Numerical Rating Scale score for activity limitations was 2.99 (standard deviation 2.50) in the dominant hand and 2.59 (standard deviation 2.49) in the non-dominant hand. Conclusion: A high prevalence of hand and wrist symptoms and impairments is often already present after 2 years of disease duration. We recommend that physicians specifically screen for these symptoms and impairments, starting 2 years after the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
AB - Objective: To determine the prevalence of hand and wrist symptoms and impairments, and the resulting activity limitations in relation to disease duration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Design and patients: A cross-sectional study included 200 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis in 4 categories of disease duration: 2-4, 4-6, 6-8 and ≥ 8 years. Patients were asked about the presence of various hand and wrist symptoms, and underwent a standardized physical examination. To evaluate activity limitations, patients completed the Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire and scored their limitations on a Numerical Rating Scale (0=no to 10=maximum limitation). Results: Of all patients, 94% suffered from at least one symptom, and 67% had at least one impairment, mostly from the earliest stages onwards. The median standardized Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand score (interquartile range) was 26.7 (10.8-12.5). The mean Numerical Rating Scale score for activity limitations was 2.99 (standard deviation 2.50) in the dominant hand and 2.59 (standard deviation 2.49) in the non-dominant hand. Conclusion: A high prevalence of hand and wrist symptoms and impairments is often already present after 2 years of disease duration. We recommend that physicians specifically screen for these symptoms and impairments, starting 2 years after the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
KW - Hand
KW - Rheumatoid arthritis
KW - Symptoms and impairments
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78149486543&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-0619
DO - https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-0619
M3 - Article
C2 - 21031287
SN - 1650-1977
VL - 42
SP - 916
EP - 921
JO - Journal of rehabilitation medicine
JF - Journal of rehabilitation medicine
IS - 10
ER -