OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and 8-year course of forefoot impairments and walking disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 848 patients with recent-onset RA from 1995 through the present were included. The patients were assessed annually. Pain and swelling of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints, erosions and joint space narrowing of the MTP joints and first interphalangeal joints, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire walking subscale were analyzed using descriptive and correlational techniques. RESULTS: Pain and swelling of > or = 1 MTP joint was present in 70% of patients at baseline, decreasing to approximately 40-50% after 2 years. The forefoot erosion score was > or = 1 in 19% of the patients at baseline, and the prevalence of forefoot erosion increased to approximately 60% after 8 years, during which the mean forefoot erosion score increased from 1.3 to 7.9. At least mild walking disability was present in 57% of patients at baseline, stabilizing at approximately 40% after 1 year. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rates for pain and swelling of the MTP joints and walking disability are initially high and then stabilize, but the prevalence and severity of forefoot joint damage increase during an 8-year course of RA. The findings of this study quantitatively emphasize the importance of forefoot involvement in patients with RA.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and 8-year course of forefoot impairments and walking disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 848 patients with recent-onset RA from 1995 through the present were included. The patients were assessed annually. Pain and swelling of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints, erosions and joint space narrowing of the MTP joints and first interphalangeal joints, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire walking subscale were analyzed using descriptive and correlational techniques. RESULTS:Pain and swelling of > or = 1 MTP joint was present in 70% of patients at baseline, decreasing to approximately 40-50% after 2 years. The forefoot erosion score was > or = 1 in 19% of the patients at baseline, and the prevalence of forefoot erosion increased to approximately 60% after 8 years, during which the mean forefoot erosion score increased from 1.3 to 7.9. At least mild walking disability was present in 57% of patients at baseline, stabilizing at approximately 40% after 1 year. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rates for pain and swelling of the MTP joints and walking disability are initially high and then stabilize, but the prevalence and severity of forefoot joint damage increase during an 8-year course of RA. The findings of this study quantitatively emphasize the importance of forefoot involvement in patients with RA.
Authors: Ronaldo Garcia Rondina; Ricardo Andrade Fernandes de Mello; Valeria Valim; Rafael Burgomeister Lourenco; Elton Francisco Pavan Batista; Ronaldo de Oliveira Júnior Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2017-05-27 Impact factor: 2.631
Authors: Marloes Tenten-Diepenmaat; Marike van der Leeden; Thea P M Vliet Vlieland; Leo D Roorda; Joost Dekker Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2018-03-20 Impact factor: 2.631
Authors: Christian Buchbender; Axel Scherer; Falk Miese; Philipp Sewerin; Alexandra Haferkamp; Ralph Brinks; Hans-Joerg Wittsack; Gerald Antoch; Matthias Schneider; Benedikt Ostendorf Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2013-01-03 Impact factor: 2.631