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Lower extremity function in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis during the first five years, and relation to other disease parameters

Mellblom Bengtsson, M. ; Hagel, S. LU ; Jacobsson, L. T.H. LU and Turesson, C. LU (2019) In Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology 48(5). p.367-374
Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate lower extremity function in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and assess its relation to other disease parameters. Methods: An inception cohort (recruited in 1995–2005) of patients with early RA was followed according to a structured protocol. Lower extremity function was investigated at inclusion and after 1, 2, and 5 years using the Index of Muscle Function (IMF; total score 0–40). Self-reported disability was estimated using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The same rheumatologist assessed patients for swollen joints and joint tenderness. Results: In total, 106 patients were included. Lower extremity function improved from baseline to the 1 year visit [IMF total median... (More)

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate lower extremity function in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and assess its relation to other disease parameters. Methods: An inception cohort (recruited in 1995–2005) of patients with early RA was followed according to a structured protocol. Lower extremity function was investigated at inclusion and after 1, 2, and 5 years using the Index of Muscle Function (IMF; total score 0–40). Self-reported disability was estimated using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The same rheumatologist assessed patients for swollen joints and joint tenderness. Results: In total, 106 patients were included. Lower extremity function improved from baseline to the 1 year visit [IMF total median 10, interquartile range (IQR) 4–16 vs 7, IQR 3–12; p = 0.01]. This was followed by a decline in lower extremity function. Throughout the study, there were significant correlations between IMF and HAQ scores (r = 0.38–0.58; p < 0.001 at all time-points). Patients with knee and/or ankle synovitis at inclusion had significantly higher IMF scores than those without such joint involvement, with similar associations for joint tenderness. In multivariate linear regression analysis, ankle synovitis was significantly associated with higher IMF scores (β = 2.91, 95% confidence interval 0.28–5.54), whereas there was no such association for metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthritis. Conclusion: Lower extremity function in early RA improved during the first year, followed by a gradual decline. Ankle involvement had a greater impact than MTP involvement on lower extremity function. This highlights the importance of treating large-joint disease in RA.

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; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
volume
48
issue
5
pages
367 - 374
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:31030582
  • scopus:85065185858
ISSN
0300-9742
DOI
10.1080/03009742.2019.1579859
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b2baf752-af0f-4d60-8172-75ff8fec1991
date added to LUP
2019-05-22 08:12:20
date last changed
2024-04-16 07:02:15
@article{b2baf752-af0f-4d60-8172-75ff8fec1991,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate lower extremity function in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and assess its relation to other disease parameters. Methods: An inception cohort (recruited in 1995–2005) of patients with early RA was followed according to a structured protocol. Lower extremity function was investigated at inclusion and after 1, 2, and 5 years using the Index of Muscle Function (IMF; total score 0–40). Self-reported disability was estimated using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The same rheumatologist assessed patients for swollen joints and joint tenderness. Results: In total, 106 patients were included. Lower extremity function improved from baseline to the 1 year visit [IMF total median 10, interquartile range (IQR) 4–16 vs 7, IQR 3–12; p = 0.01]. This was followed by a decline in lower extremity function. Throughout the study, there were significant correlations between IMF and HAQ scores (r = 0.38–0.58; p &lt; 0.001 at all time-points). Patients with knee and/or ankle synovitis at inclusion had significantly higher IMF scores than those without such joint involvement, with similar associations for joint tenderness. In multivariate linear regression analysis, ankle synovitis was significantly associated with higher IMF scores (β = 2.91, 95% confidence interval 0.28–5.54), whereas there was no such association for metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthritis. Conclusion: Lower extremity function in early RA improved during the first year, followed by a gradual decline. Ankle involvement had a greater impact than MTP involvement on lower extremity function. This highlights the importance of treating large-joint disease in RA.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mellblom Bengtsson, M. and Hagel, S. and Jacobsson, L. T.H. and Turesson, C.}},
  issn         = {{0300-9742}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{367--374}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology}},
  title        = {{Lower extremity function in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis during the first five years, and relation to other disease parameters}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03009742.2019.1579859}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/03009742.2019.1579859}},
  volume       = {{48}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}