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- Björk, Mathilda, et al.
(författare)
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Hand Function and Activity Limitation According to Health Assessment Questionnaire in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Healthy Referents : 5-Year Followup of Predictors of Activity Limitation (The Swedish TIRA Project)
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Rheumatology. - Toronto, Ontario, Canada : Journal of Rheumatology Publishing Co. Ltd.. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 34:2, s. 296-302
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: This study identifies baseline predictors of future activity limitation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To reinforce the utility of instruments assessing functional ability/activity limitation, we used reference data from healthy referents. Methods: This study includes 189 patients (69% women) with recent-onset RA (onset of joint swelling not more than 12 months at diagnosis) in a prospective cohort ("the Swedish TIRA project") during 27 months from 1996 through 1998. Regular followups were done for a period of 5 years, and 123 healthy persons (50% women) were recruited as referents. Hand function was assessed by the "grip ability test (GAT)" and "signals of functional impairment" (SOFI). Grip force was measured with the electronic device GrippitTM. Activity limitation was assessed with the Swedish version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Results: Throughout the study and for both sexes, GAT, grip force, SOFI-hand, and HAQ were significantly different for the patients compared to healthy referents. In the healthy referents, HAQ was mainly related to age and GAT, whereas in RA HAQ was most obviously linked to grip force. Five years after diagnosis only 8% of HAQ outcome was explained by the baseline measures: HAQ, grip force, SOFI-lower limb, sex, walking speed, and GAT. Conclusion: Our study provides valuable reference data for several functional ability and activity limitation measures. The HAQ score was explained by different variables in healthy referents compared to patients with RA. Five years after diagnosis only 8% of HAQ outcome was explained by the variables assessed at inclusion.
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- Björk, Mathilda, et al.
(författare)
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Sick leave before and after diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in relation to referens : A report from the Swedish TIRA project
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Rheumatology. - : Journal of Rheumatology Publishing Co. Ltd.. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 36:6, s. 1170-1179
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. Our study describes sick leave during 3 years before and 3 years after diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in relation to referents and identifies predictors for sick leave during the third year after diagnosis of RA.Methods. One hundred twenty patients (76% women) from the Swedish early RA study TIRA were included. Disease activity and disability were registered regularly during 3 years in TIRA. Referents were matched for sex, age, and home town. Sick leave data were obtained for patients 3 years before and 3 years after diagnosis and for the referents for the corresponding 6 years.Results. No differences were seen between patients and referents regarding sick leave during the first 2 years, whereas sick leave increased in patients 6 months before diagnosis, from 30% to 53%. During the 3 years after diagnosis, sick leave among patients was rather stable, varying between 50% and 60%, even though disability pension increased and sickness benefit decreased. Sick leave before diagnosis, disability 1 year after diagnosis, and type of work were identified as predictors for sick leave during the third year after diagnosis.Conclusion. Not surprisingly, sick leave in patients increased the year before diagnosis. Although disease activity and disability diminished after diagnosis, the patients’ sick leave remained essentially unchanged. Sick leave 3 years after diagnosis was foremost predicted by earlier sick leave, disability, and type of work.
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- Elert, Jessica, 1954-, et al.
(författare)
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Chronic pain and difficulty in relaxing postural muscles in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic whiplash associated disorders
- 2001
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Ingår i: Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 28:6, s. 1361-1368
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To investigate if muscle tension according to the surface electromyogram (EMG) of the shoulder flexors is increased in consecutive patients with fibromyalgia (FM) or chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD). Methods. A total of 59 consecutive patients with FM (n = 36) or chronic WAD (n = 23) performed 100 maximal isokinetic contractions combined with surface electromyography of the trapezius and infraspinatus. A randomized group of pain-free female (n = 27) subjects served as control group. Peak torque initially (Pti) and absolute and relative peak torque at endurance level (PTe, PTer) were registered as output variables, together with the EMG level of unnecessary muscle tension, i.e., the signal amplitude ratio (SAR). Results. The patient groups had a higher level of unnecessary tension initially and at the endurance level. The patients had lower absolute output (PTi and PTe), but the relative levels (PTer) did not differ comparing all 3 groups. Subjects with FM had significantly higher body mass index (BMI) than the other groups. BMI did not influence the SAR but correlated positively with PTi. Conclusion. The results confirmed earlier findings that groups of patients with chronic pain have increased muscle tension and decreased output during dynamic activity compared to pain-free controls. However, the results indicated there is heterogeneity within groups of patients with the same chronic pain disorder and that not all patients with chronic pain have increased muscle tension.
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- Gerdle, Björn, 1953-, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence of current and chronic pain and their influences upon work and healthcare-seeking: A population study
- 2004
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Ingår i: Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 31:7, s. 1399-1406
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To investigate the prevalence of current and chronic pain and their relationship to pain intensity, sex, age, income, employment status, citizenship, marital status, urban residence, occupational activity, and healthcare-seeking based on a representative sample from a Swedish county. Methods. A cross-sectional survey using a postal questionnaire was sent to a representative sample (n = 9952) of the target population (284,073 people, age 18-74 yrs) in a county (Ostergotland) in southern Sweden. A questionnaire was mailed and followed by 2 postal reminders if necessary. Results. The participation rate was 76.7% (n = 7637); nonparticipants were on average younger, male, and earned less money. The overall point prevalence of pain was 48.9%. The corresponding one-month period prevalence was 63.0%, and pain on several occasions during the previous 3 months was reported by 61.3% of participants. The prevalence of chronic pain (pain > 3 months) was 53.7%. Female sex, age, and sick leave/early retirement were generally of significant importance in the regressions of pain. No sex factor was found in the regressions of pain frequency and pain intensity. Chronic pain - especially frequent and intensive pain - showed clear associations with healthcare-seeking and occupational activity. Conclusion. High prevalence of current pain (48.9%) and chronic pain (53.7%) were found in this community-based study. Being female, older, and on sick leave or early retirement were generally of significant importance in the regressions of pain. Chronic pain showed clear associations with healthcare-seeking and occupational activity, indicating considerable socioeconomic costs.
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- Lundberg, Gunnar, et al.
(författare)
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Tender point scores and their relations to signs of mobility, symptoms, and disability in female home care personnel and the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome
- 2002
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Ingår i: Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 29:3, s. 603-613
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: In this study of female home care personnel employed in a municipality (n = 643; participation rate 94%) we investigated (1) the prevalence of tender points and fibromyalgia (FM); (2) the relationships between tender point score and other signs and symptoms; (3) if subgroups based on the tender point score differed with respect to signs, symptoms, disability, and health related quality of life; and (4) signs that showed the strongest intercorrelations with disability and health.METHODS: The following variables were registered: (1) Signs: joint mobility, spinal posture and mobility, tender points, and segmental mobility and pain provocation at L4-S1 levels of the low back. (2) Symptoms: pain and pain intensity and other symptoms. (3) Disability (i.e., self-rated reduced capacity for everyday activities and employment) and health: 3 indices and sick leave.RESULTS: The tender point score correlated with the number of pain regions and the pain intensities, and the amount of other symptoms, sick leave, and disability. Tender point score was the strongest regressor of the investigated signs in regression of the 2 disability indices. Segmental pain showed the strongest correlation with tender point score. Three subgroups identified by tender point score showed significant differences in segmental pain, prevalence and intensity of different symptoms, disability, and health related quality of life. The prevalence of FM was 2.0%.CONCLUSION: Tender point score together with different symptoms showed relatively strong correlations with disability. A relatively high prevalence of FM was found in occupationally active female home care personnel.
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