Evaluation of hand functional indices in association to clinical, laboratory, and radiologic data in patients with...

This study aims to compare the clinical, radiological, and general health status of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) using the Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) and the modified Hand Mobility in Scleroderma (mHAMIS) test.

This cross-sectional, single-center study included 71 patients (68 females, 3 males; mean age: 49.1± 8.1 years; range, 31 to 69 years) with SSc between January 2024 and August 2024. We recorded sociodemographic data, disease-related parameters, laboratory parameters, medications, physical examination findings of the hand, direct radiographic changes, and the degree of skin stiffness with the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) in patients with SSc. Hand function was assessed with two hand indices: DHI and mHAMIS. Patients' general health status was evaluated with the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI).

The mean DHI and the median total mHAMIS scores were 16.7 ± 15.8 and 1 (4), respectively. Patients showed a moderate to strong positive correlation of both DHI and mHAMIS scores with since time to diagnosis, diffuse cutaneous SSc, mRSS, hand examination, radiography, and the HAQ-DI scores, and a negative correlation with body mass index (p<0.05). Digital ulcers and erosive changes were associated with DHI scores, while the since time to diagnosis, digital ulcers, and flexion contracture on radiographic examination affected mHAMIS scores in multiple regression analysis. The mHAMIS score showed a higher coefficient correlation value with disease-related parameters, hand examination, radiography, mRSS, and HAQ-DI scores compared to the DHI score.

The findings demonstrated that mHAMIS, a simple tool for assessing patient hand functionality, more accurately captured hand examination and radiography, disease-related parameters, mRSS, and HAQ-DI scores.