Abstract
To investigate the relationship between handgrip strength (HGs) features, evaluated with an innovative cylindrical-shaped grip device, and demographic, anthropometric and clinical variables, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Consecutive RA patients were prospectively enrolled for this cross-sectional study. For each patient were collected demographic, anthropometric, clinical data related to disease activity. HGs was assessed in terms of area under the force–time curve (AUC-FeT), peak grip force and time to reach the curve plateau. The correlations between the variables were studied with the Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to test the discriminant accuracy of HGs features in identifying patients in moderate/high disease activity. A multivariate analysis was performed to estimate the contribution of covariates on the AUC-FeT. A significant correlation was found among AUC-FeT, age, Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), Ultrasound-Clinical Arthritis Activity (US-CLARA) (all at p < 0.0001), and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.0001). Any correlation was found between HGs and radiographic damage. The discriminatory power of AUC-FeT was good [area under-ROC curve = 0.810 (95% CI 0.746–0.864)]. Variables significantly associated with AUC-FeT in multivariate analysis were age (p = 0.0006), BMI (p = 0.012), gender (p = 0.004), SDAI (p = 0.047) and US-CLARA (p = 0.023). HGs is negatively influenced by demographic (gender and age), anthropometric (BMI), and disease activity variables (SDAI and US-CLARA). These findings highlight the role of HGs in RA patients' functional impairment and disability.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects people all over the world, with a 0.5% of prevalence in Italy [1]
The objective of this study was to study the association between Handgrip strength (HGs) features, estimated with an innovative cylindrical-shaped grip device, and demographic, anthropometric and clinical variables clinical variables in RA patients
HGs has been found to be related with disease activity scores and disability [6]
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects people all over the world, with a 0.5% of prevalence in Italy [1]. RA affects a number of joints, with a large percentage of patients experiencing symptoms in hands and wrists. Joint pain and swelling are common symptoms, resulting in diminished hand strength and movement impairment [2]. Journal of Medical Systems (2021) 45: 100 function should be done separately from a RA patient's disease activity evaluation [4]. Handgrip strength (HGs) has been shown to correlate with both objective and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of disease activity and function [5, 6]. Results coming from the VErA (Very Early Rheumatoid Arthritis) project has revealed that lower HGs in RA patients are related with a larger economic burden [7]
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