The Prevalence of Dental Implants and Related Factors in Patients with Sjögren Syndrome: Results from a Cohort Study.

Objective: To investigate prevalence and patient-reported outcomes of dental implants in patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS).

Methods: A total of 205 female patients from an observational cohort study answered oral health questionnaires about periodontal signs and symptoms, dentures, dental implants, comorbidities, and therapies that may interfere with bone remodeling. Data were compared with the reports of 87 female healthy controls.

Depression is a stronger predictor of the risk to consider work disability in early arthritis than disease activity or response to therapy.

Objectives: To evaluate the factors that influence patients with early inflammatory arthritis to consider a disability pension.

Methods: A total of 528 patients aged 63 or younger from an early arthritis cohort with a mean symptom duration of 3 months at inclusion were asked at 12 and 24 months whether they were considering applying for, had applied for or were receiving a disability pension because of arthritis. Possible predictors were analysed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Association Between the Use of Oral Contraceptives and Patient-Reported Outcomes in an Early Arthritis Cohort.

Objective: To evaluate the association between exposure to oral contraceptives (OCs) and clinical outcomes in an early arthritis cohort.

Methods: Female patients with early inflammatory arthritis, ages 18-60 years, who were enrolled in an early arthritis cohort and had no exposure to hormone replacement were studied (n = 273). Associations between OC exposure (current/past/never) and disease activity, treatment, and patient-reported outcomes, including the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease Score (RAID), the Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index (RADAI), the Profile of Mood and Discomfort (PROFAD), and the Hannover Functional Assessment (FFbH), were studied over 2 years.

Fatigue and depression predict physician visits and work disability in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome: results from a cohort study.

Objectives: Patients with primary SS (pSS) are frequently suffering from multiple enduring disorders that raise the risk of work disability and require treatment by various health-care specialists. We aimed at determining predictors of physician visits and work disability in pSS patients.

Methods: Physician visits within the past 6 months, employment status and sick leave were compared among 176 female pSS patients and 115 age-matched controls.

Advance and unmet need of health care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the German population--results from the German Rheumatoid Arthritis Population Survey (GRAPS).

Objectives: To assess the quality of health care for RA patients in the general population of Germany.

Methods: A three-stage population survey was conducted to identify individuals with RA using a health care access panel (18-79 years; n = 70,112). A 20-item postal screening questionnaire of musculoskeletal symptoms and diagnoses was followed by a detailed questionnaire for those who indicated the possibility of having RA.

Radiographic joint damage in early rheumatoid arthritis is highly dependent on body mass index.

Objective: To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and radiographic joint damage (using the Ratingen Score [RS]) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: The study was carried out in 767 patients with early RA. Standard clinical data, RS, and BMI were evaluated at baseline and after 3 years.