Disability Related to the Upper Extremities in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis-Long-Term Course and Disease Variable Impact: A Cohort Study.

Objective: To investigate the course of disability related to the upper extremities (UEs) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to assess correlations between such disability and clinical variables, including grip force.

Methods: In an inception cohort of patients with early RA (diagnosed 1995-2005, N = 222, follow-up 10 yrs), disability of the UEs was assessed using a subscore of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI-UE), and average grip force of the dominant hand was measured. Changes between consecutive follow-up visits in the HAQ-DI-UE subscore, and correlations at each visit with key clinical variables, were assessed.

The relation between synovitis of individual finger joints and grip force over the first 5 years in early rheumatoid arthritis - a cohort study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the relation between swelling and tenderness of individual finger joints and grip force in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In an inception cohort of patients with early RA (symptom duration < 12 months), all patients were examined by the same rheumatologist, and grip force was measured using the Grippit instrument at inclusion, 1 and 5 years. The average grip force values of each hand were evaluated and expressed as % of expected values, based on age- and sex-specific reference values.

Predictors of unacceptable pain with and without low inflammation over 5 years in early rheumatoid arthritis-an inception cohort study.

Objectives: Pain is a major symptom in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In early RA, pain is usually due to synovitis, but can also persist despite effective anti-inflammatory treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the pain course over time and predictors of unacceptable pain and unacceptable pain with low inflammation, in patients with early RA.

The Relation Between Disease Activity, Patient-Reported Outcomes, and Grip Force Over Time in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify early predictors of future reduced grip force in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to identify early predictors of grip force over time.

Methods: In a structured follow-up of an inception cohort of patients with early RA, average grip force values of the dominant hand were evaluated and compared with the expected based on age- and sex-specific reference values. Potential predictors of reduced grip force (less than 50% of expected) at 5 years were examined using logistic regression.

The relation between upper extremity joint involvement and grip force in early rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective study.

To investigate the relation between joint involvement in the upper extremities and grip force in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An inception cohort of 225 patients with early RA was followed according to a structured protocol. The same rheumatologist assessed all patients for swollen joints and joint tenderness.

Course of Grip Force Impairment in Patients With Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Over the First Five Years After Diagnosis.

Objective: Objective measures of function are important in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to investigate grip strength in patients with early RA.

Methods: An inception cohort of 225 patients with early RA was followed in accordance with a structured protocol.