Arthritis care & research
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Arthritis care & research · Jan 2013
Comparative StudyExcess body weight and four-year function outcomes: comparison of African Americans and whites in a prospective study of osteoarthritis.
We evaluated whether African Americans in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) have a greater risk (versus whites) of poor 4-year function outcome within strata defined by sex, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference. ⋯ Among OAI women with excess body weight, African Americans are at greater risk than whites for poor 4-year outcome. Modifiable factors that may help to explain these findings in the OAI include comorbidity, depressive symptoms, and knee pain. Targeting such factors, while supporting weight loss, may help to lessen the outcome disparity between African American and white women.
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Arthritis care & research · Dec 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialSerum cotinine as a biomarker of tobacco exposure and the association with treatment response in early rheumatoid arthritis.
Cigarette smoking has emerged as a risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent studies have suggested that cigarette smoking may lead to lower treatment response rates with methotrexate (MTX) and some biologic agents in RA. Knowledge of whether tobacco exposure reduces treatment efficacy is important, since smoking could represent a modifiable factor in optimizing RA treatment. ⋯ Among patients enrolled in a large randomized controlled trial of early RA with poor prognostic factors, smoking status did not impact treatment responses for those receiving early combination or initial MTX with step-up therapy at 24 weeks if the disease was still active.
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Arthritis care & research · Dec 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyPharmacist-initiated intervention trial in osteoarthritis: a multidisciplinary intervention for knee osteoarthritis.
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a commonly undiagnosed condition and care is often not provided. Pharmacists are uniquely placed for launching a multidisciplinary intervention for knee OA. ⋯ Pharmacists can launch a multidisciplinary intervention to identify knee OA cases, improve the utilization of treatments, and improve function, pain, and quality of life.
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Arthritis care & research · Nov 2012
Reproducibility, validity, and responsiveness of the hip outcome score in patients with end-stage hip osteoarthritis.
To evaluate reproducibility, validity, and responsiveness of the Hip Outcome Score (HOS) in patients with end-stage hip osteoarthritis. ⋯ The HOS is reproducible and responsive when assessing patients with end-stage hip osteoarthritis in whom the items are relevant. However, based on the large proportion of missing data and the findings of the factor analysis, we cannot recommend this questionnaire for routine use in this target group.
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Arthritis care & research · Nov 2012
Responsiveness of five outcome measurement instruments in total elbow arthroplasty.
To quantify and compare the sensitivity to change of 5 outcome instruments for the elbow joint. ⋯ The PREE was the most responsive instrument and can be recommended for every set of measures for elbow joint disorders. The pmASES was slightly less responsive but is a valid alternative. The examiner-assessed cmASES is affected by concerns regarding validity and was relatively less responsive. The DASH for comprehensive measurement of the entire upper extremity and the SF-36 for chronic pain conditions complete the assessment set.