Hand disability and related variables in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

To carry out a cross-sectional study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for hand disability, articular damage and to define their relation with demographic, laboratory and clinical parameters.

The study included 105 RA patients with a mean age of 49.4 years. Demographic parameters of the patients were recorded. Clinical parameters including disease duration, duration of morning stiffness, pain assessed by visual analog scale, Ritchie Articular Index, grip strength, lateral, tip and three-fingered pinch, and laboratory parameters comprising C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and rheumatoid factor were evaluated in all patients. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Articular Damage (RAAD) score was used to assess the irreversible articular damage and deformities of the hand. Hand disability was assessed by the special hand disability index of Standford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ).

Hand disabilities of various levels were detected in 81% of the patients. Disease duration, grip strength, pinch measurements, clinical and laboratory activity parameters were strongly correlated with hand disability (p<0.01). Hand disability was more related to disease activity parameters than articular damage (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). Grip strength and pinch measurements were the most related parameters with hand disability. The disability scores were significantly higher in female patients (p<0.01). The RAAD score was correlated with disease duration and grip strength (p<0.01). The clinical and laboratory parameters and seropositivity were not correlated with articular damage assessed by RAAD score (p>0.05).

Our data suggest that grip strength and pinch measurements seem to be the most related variables with hand disability and articular damage. Therefore, grip strength and pinch measurement should be included in the evaluation and follow-up of the patients with RA in hand rehabilitation units.