• S Botha-Scheepers, N Riyazi, I Watt, F R Rosendaal, E Slagboom, N Bellamy, F C Breedveld, and M Kloppenburg.
• Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Rheumatology, Leiden, The Netherlands.
• Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2009 Aug 1; 68 (8): 1260-4.

ObjectivesTo investigate the course of hand osteoarthritis over 2 years by currently available outcome measures.Methods189 participants of the Genetics, Arthrosis and Progression (GARP) study with hand osteoarthritis were followed for 2 years. Self-reported hand pain and functional limitations were assessed with the Australian/Canadian osteoarthritis hand index (AUSCAN LK 3.0). Pain intensity upon lateral pressure in the interphalangeal and thumb base joints was graded on a four-point scale. Osteophytes (0-3) and joint space narrowing (JSN) (0-3) was scored at baseline and after 2 years in interphalangeal and thumb base joints. Standardised response means (SRM) were calculated.Results172 (91%) patients completed the 2-year follow-up (mean age 60.5 years, 78.5% women). Statistically significant increases in self-reported pain and function scores, in pain intensity scores as well as in osteophyte and JSN total scores were seen over 2 years. SRM were 0.25, 0.23, 0.67, 0.34 and 0.35, respectively, for self-reported pain and function scores, pain intensity scores, osteophyte and JSN total scores. Radiological progression was not associated with changes in self-reported pain and function. Women in an early post-menopausal stage were especially at risk of progressing radiologically.ConclusionsCurrently available outcome measures were able to assess progression over the relatively short time period of 2 years. Radiographic outcomes were more responsive than self-reported outcomes. Pain intensity upon lateral pressure seems to be a responsive measure but needs validation.

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