Corticosteroid injections during the COVID-19 pandemic: experience from a UK centre.

Aims: To describe the incidence of adverse clinical outcomes related to COVID-19 infection following corticosteroid injections (CSI) during the COVID-19 pandemic. To describe the incidence of positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, positive SARS-COV2 IgG antibody testing or positive imaging findings following CSI at our institution during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was undertaken of consecutive patients who had CSI in our local hospitals between 1 February and 30June 2020.

Menopausal arthralgia: Fact or fiction.

Arthralgia is experienced by more then half of the women around the time of menopause. The causes of joint pain in postmenopausal women can be difficult to determine as the period of menopause coincides with rising incidence of chronic rheumatic conditions such as osteoarthritis. Nevertheless, prevalence of arthralgia does appear to increase in women with menopausal transition and is thought to result from reduction in oestrogen levels.

Obesity and arthritis.

Obesity affects over 20% of the UK's adult population and its prevalence is rising. Obesity can lead to a variety of musculoskeletal problems and is independently associated with locomotor disability and joint pain. Obesity increases the risk of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA), but has a lesser effect on disease progression.