Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026
An Objective and Child-friendly Assessment of Arm Function by Using a 3-D Sensor
Published on: February 12, 2018
Biopsychosocial Determinants of Hand Function and Its Trajectories Over Five Years in Patients With Hand
Annemiek V E M Olde Meule1, Coen van der Meulen1, Jos Runhaar2
1Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate hand function trajectories over five years in primary hand osteoarthritis (OA). Additionally, determinants of baseline and longitudinal hand function were assessed.
Methods:
A total of 538 patients with both baseline and five-year study visits were analyzed. Annual data of the Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) function subscale (range 0-36) from the Hand Osteoarthritis in Secondary Care study were used. Latent Class Growth Analysis (LCGA) identified hand function trajectories. Baseline and longitudinal associations with hand function were assessed using multivariable linear and multinomial logistic regression.
Results:
There were 538 patients (86.1% women; mean age 61.0 years) with a mean AUSCAN function 15.6 (SD 8.4; range 0-36; higher scores indicate worse hand function) included. Multivariable analysis showed that hand function was cross-sectionally associated with AUSCAN pain, grip strength, hand mobility, and the illness perception consequences. In 301 patients with five-year follow-up data, four hand function trajectories emerged. The worst trajectories were defined by baseline function scores of 23.69 (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.04-25.61) with a slope of 0.36 (95% CI 0.03-0.69) and 16.87 (95% CI 15.41-18.34) with a slope of 0.38 (95% CI 0.01-0.74) and deteriorated over five years (mean decrease of respectively 1.82 and 1.88). Deteriorating trajectories were associated with structural damage and the illness perception chronicity of disease.
Conclusion:
Hand function varies greatly in patients with hand OA. LCGA identified four longitudinal patient groups, of which two showed an unfavorable course of hand function over five years. Hand function was characterized by disease characteristics, including structural damage and psychosocial determinants.
