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Hand functions in systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis and influence on clinical variables
Author(s) -
Erol Kemal,
Gok Kevser,
Cengiz Gizem,
Ozgocmen Salih
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/1756-185x.13044
Subject(s) - medicine , grip strength , rheumatoid arthritis , visual analogue scale , quality of life (healthcare) , body mass index , disease , physical therapy , nursing
Aim Hand joints are the main target in rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) and hand involvement in terms of thickening of the skin and contractures are also well known in systemic sclerosis ( SS c). Assessment of hand function in SS c is generally an overlooked entity with respect to RA . Therefore the aim of this study was to compare hand functions and potential influence of functional loss on patients' overall physical functions, health‐related quality of life ( HRQ oL) and psychological status in RA and SS c. Methods Age‐ and gender‐matched adult patients with SS c and RA were consecutively recruited. Patients' hand functions were evaluated by using the Duruöz Hand Index ( DHI ), and hand span and hand grip strength were measured. Patients were evaluated for disease‐specific and generic outcome measures including disease activity parameters and HRQ oL measures. Results Fifty patients (44 female, six male) with SS c and 51 (45 female, six male) with RA were included. Despite similar functioning and HRQ oL, patients with RA had higher visual analog scale‐pain and body mass index. In both groups DHI revealed similar functional loss and correlated with various measurements related to HRQ oL. In SS c, hand span, grip strength and modified Rodnan skin score had major influences on hand functions. Conclusion Assessment of hand function is an important component in the clinical evaluation of patients with RA and SS c. Loss of hand functions is an important feature contributing negatively to the overall physical status and HRQ oL in patients with SS c and may be more frequent and important than expected.