Obesity and diabetes are associated with disability in women with hand osteoarthritis. Results from the EpiReumaPt nationwide study.

Background: Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is a highly prevalent rheumatic disease that predominates in females and causes pain and loss of functional capacity. Obesity and metabolic syndrome have been previously suggested to associate with the severity of HOA, but clarity on these associations is yet to be achieved.

Objective: Test the association between obesity and other components of the metabolic syndrome and disability in women with hand osteoarthritis (HOA).

Portuguese Authorship in Published Clinical Trials: Differences in Industry and Investigator Initiated Trials.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the Portuguese authorship in publications resulting from trials initiated by the industry or investigators and run in Portugal.

Material And Methods: Clinical trials with Portuguese institutions as sponsor or recruiting centers, and registered in four clinical trial registries, in the last 14 years, were assessed. Publications of completed trials, from both the initiative of the industry and investigatorswere screened and compared.

Effectiveness of switching between TNF inhibitors in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: is the reason to switch relevant?

Background: To investigate whether the reason to discontinue the first TNF inhibitor (TNFi) affects the response to the second TNFi in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: Patients with axSpA from the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (ReumaPt), who discontinued their first TNFi and started the second TNFi between June 2008 and May 2018, were included. Response was assessed by the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) clinically important improvement (ASDAS-CII), major important improvement (ASDAS-MI), low disease activity (ASDAS-LDA), and inactive disease (ASDAS-ID).

CORRELATION STUDY BETWEEN DRUSEN MORPHOLOGY AND FUNDUS AUTOFLUORESCENCE.

Purpose: To correlate drusen morphology and outer retinal status with autofluorescence (AF) imaging in patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: Drusen type and morphology were analyzed using color fundus photography and spectral-domain optic coherence tomography, whereas fundus AF was used for drusen AF evaluation. Additional structural changes on spectral-domain optic coherence tomography, such as disruption of external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone, and retinal pigment epithelium/Bruch membrane complex, as well as the presence of choroidal hypertransmission at correspondent locations were also evaluated and correlated with fundus AF findings.

Eligibility criteria for biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in axial spondyloarthritis: going beyond BASDAI.

Objectives: To compare definitions of high disease activity of the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) in selecting patients for treatment with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs).

Methods: Patients from Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt) with a clinical diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) were included.

Performance of referral strategies for spondyloarthritis: a population-based nationwide study.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of the referral strategy (RS) for SpA of a nationwide epidemiological study (EpiReumaPt), as compared with previously proposed RSs.

Methods: EpiReumaPt was a three-stage national epidemiologic study. In phase one, 10 661 adult participants were randomly selected and screened for rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

The burden and undertreatment of fragility fractures among senior women.

Unlabelled: Using a large population database, we showed that fragility fractures were highly prevalent in senior women and were associated with significant physical disability. However, treatment rates were low because osteoporosis treatment was not prescribed or not agreed to by the majority of women with prevalent fragility fractures.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to estimate prevalence of fragility fractures (FF), risk factors, and treatment rates in senior women and to assess impact of FF on physical function and quality of life.

Hip shape is symmetric, non-dependent on limb dominance and gender-specific: implications for femoroacetabular impingement. A 3D CT analysis in asymptomatic subjects.

Objective: To determine the reference intervals (RefInt) of the quantitative morphometric parameters of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in asymptomatic hips with computed tomography (CT) and determine their dependence on age, side, limb dominance and sex.

Methods: We prospectively included 590 patients and evaluated 1111 hips with semi-automated CT analysis. We calculated overall, side- and sex-specific parameters for imaging signs of cam [omega and alpha angle (α°)] and pincer-type morphology [acetabular version (ACvers), lateral centre-edge angle (LCEA) and cranio-caudal coverage].

Assessing quality of life of self-reported rheumatic patients.

The aims of this study were to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with self-reported rheumatic diseases (RD), to classify self-reported rheumatic patients in groups according to their health state and to explore the associations between health status and sociodemographic variables. Data came from the Portuguese Epidemiologic study of the RD. A sample of the Portuguese population aged 18 or more (n = 10,661) stratified by region and locality dimension was interviewed by trained interviewers and answered a standardized questionnaire that included the SF-36v1, the EQ-5D-3L, medical history, identification of potential rheumatic diseases, sociodemographic characteristics, among others.

The Use of Analgesic and Other Pain-Relief Drugs to Manage Chronic Low Back Pain: Results from a National Survey.

Objectives: To analyze and characterize the intake profile of pain-relief drugs in a population-based study of adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Methods: EpiReumaPt was a cross-sectional Portuguese population-based study (10,661 subjects). Self-reported active CLBP was considered to be low back pain on the day of enrollment and for ≥ 90 days.

Prevalence of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and their impact on health-related quality of life, physical function and mental health in Portugal: results from EpiReumaPt- a national health survey.

Objectives: To estimate the national prevalence of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) in the adult Portuguese population and to determine their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical function, anxiety and depression.

Methods: EpiReumaPt is a national health survey with a three-stage approach. First, 10 661 adult participants were randomly selected.

Prevalence and social burden of active chronic low back pain in the adult Portuguese population: results from a national survey.

To determine the prevalence of active chronic low back pain (CLBP) in the adult Portuguese population; to compare the active CLBP population with the population without CLBP; and to explore factors associated with active CLBP. The present study was conducted under the scope of EpiReumaPt a population-based study. Active CLBP was self-reported and considered if present on the day of the interview and for ≥90 days.

EpiReumaPt: how to perform a national population based study - a practical guide.

Background: The aim of this article was to describe and discuss several strategies and standard operating procedures undertaken in the EpiReumaPt study - which was the first Portuguese, national, cross-sectional population-based study of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMD).

Methods: The technical procedures, legal issues, management and practical questions were studied, analyzed and discussed with relevant stakeholders. During the 1st phase of EpiReumaPt the coordination team and Centro de Estudos de Sondagens e Opinião (CESOP) worked to recruit and interview 10,661 subjects.

EpiReumaPt- the study of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in Portugal: a detailed view of the methodology.

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) are prevalent and leading causes of disability and consumption of healthcare and social resources. EpiReumaPt is a national population-based survey developed by the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology that aimed to estimate the prevalence of RMDs and determine their impact on function, quality of life, mental health and use of healthcare resources. This article describes in detail the design, methodology and planned analyses of EpiReumaPt.

CoReumaPt protocol: the Portuguese cohort of rheumatic diseases.

Introduction: Rheumatic diseases (RD) are conditions with a variety of clinical manifestations and prognosis influenced by several factors. Cohorts and registries have been already established in some countries and have contributed to important knowledge about the disease course and the long-term outcomes of RD. This paper introduces the CoReumaPt project and sets the first step towards the creation of a prospective cohort study including the main RD occurring in the Portuguese population.