rss
Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:1260-1264 doi:10.1136/ard.2008.087981
  • Clinical and epidemiological research

Progression of hand osteoarthritis over 2 years: a clinical and radiological follow-up study

  1. S Botha-Scheepers1,
  2. N Riyazi1,
  3. I Watt2,
  4. F R Rosendaal3,
  5. E Slagboom4,
  6. N Bellamy5,
  7. F C Breedveld1,
  8. M Kloppenburg1
  1. 1
    Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
  2. 2
    Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
  3. 3
    Departments of Clinical Epidemiology and Haematology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
  4. 4
    Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
  5. 5
    Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  1. Dr M Kloppenburg, Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Rheumatology, C1-R, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; g.kloppenburg{at}lumc.nl
  • Accepted 3 August 2008
  • Published Online First 26 August 2008

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the course of hand osteoarthritis over 2 years by currently available outcome measures.

Methods: 189 participants of the Genetics, Arthrosis and Progression (GARP) study with hand osteoarthritis were followed for 2 years. Self-reported hand pain and functional limitations were assessed with the Australian/Canadian osteoarthritis hand index (AUSCAN LK 3.0). Pain intensity upon lateral pressure in the interphalangeal and thumb base joints was graded on a four-point scale. Osteophytes (0–3) and joint space narrowing (JSN) (0–3) was scored at baseline and after 2 years in interphalangeal and thumb base joints. Standardised response means (SRM) were calculated.

Results: 172 (91%) patients completed the 2-year follow-up (mean age 60.5 years, 78.5% women). Statistically significant increases in self-reported pain and function scores, in pain intensity scores as well as in osteophyte and JSN total scores were seen over 2 years. SRM were 0.25, 0.23, 0.67, 0.34 and 0.35, respectively, for self-reported pain and function scores, pain intensity scores, osteophyte and JSN total scores. Radiological progression was not associated with changes in self-reported pain and function. Women in an early post-menopausal stage were especially at risk of progressing radiologically.

Conclusions: Currently available outcome measures were able to assess progression over the relatively short time period of 2 years. Radiographic outcomes were more responsive than self-reported outcomes. Pain intensity upon lateral pressure seems to be a responsive measure but needs validation.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Funding: This work was funded by Pfizer Inc, Groton, Connecticut, USA.

  • Ethics approval: The GARP study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Leiden University Medical Centre.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF
  4. All versions of this article:
    1. ard.2008.087981v1
    2. 68/8/1260 most recent

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.