Résumé
Objectives: To describe the prevalence of rheumatoid nodules [RN] in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and to compare their features with those of patients without RN
Subjects and Methods: Adult RA patients [n = 952] in the Kuwait Registry for Rheumatic Diseases from February 2013 to December 2015 were evaluated for RN. Demographic and serological features and disease activity and severity were obtained from the registry
Results: Of the 952 RA patients, 22 [2.3%] had RN and 930 [97.7%] did not. Age, sex, disease duration, smoking, and family history of an autoimmune rheumatic disease were similar. Obesity was more prevalent in the RN group, i.e. 11 [50%] vs. 326 [35.1%], p = 0.016. There was no difference in rheumatoid factor [RF] or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody positivity. Patients with RN had more sicca symptoms, i.e. 8 [36.4%] vs. 152 [16.3%], p = 0.025, a higher mean score on the visual analogue scale pain [3 +/- 2.9 vs. 2 +/- 2.7, p < 0.001], more tender joints [6.4 +/- 8.8 vs. 4.2 +/- 7.2, p = 0.001], a higher patient global assessment of disease activity [3.3 +/- 2.7 vs. 2.3 +/- 2.7, p < 0.001], and more deformities, i.e. 3 [13.6%] vs. 74 [8%], p = 0.034. The mean health assessment questionnaire score in RN patients was 1.1 versus 0.9 in patients without RN [p = 0.08]. Patients with RN had a low disease activity [means: disease activity score [DAS-28], 3.02; clinical disease activity index, 7.7; and simple disease activity index, 10.4], similar to the other group. While the rates of methotrexate treatment were comparable, biologic therapy was administered more in patients with RN [i.e. 15 [68.2%] vs. 478 [51.4%], p < 0.001]
Conclusion: In Kuwait, the prevalence of RN is low among RA patients. Patients with and without RN are similar in terms of demographics and serologic features, except for more obesity. However, patients with RN have more sicca symptoms, joint deformities, and painful and tender joints. Disease activity scores are low with more frequent biologic therapy
Résumé
Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the health effects of shisha smoking with cigarette smoking among male college students in Kuwait
Subjects and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted on 525 male students in Kuwait from September to October 2013. A pretested questionnaire was used for information on demographics and health complaints. Peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] was measured using a portable peak flow meter. The outcome variables of health status were compared between smoking shisha, cigarettes, or both, and nonsmoking
Results:The prevalence of current smoking was 243 of the 525 students [46%]; of them, 52 [10%] were shisha smokers, 69 were [13%] cigarette smokers and 122 [23%] were both shisha and cigarette smokers. There were significantly fewer shisha smokers than cigarette smokers with symptoms of persistent cough [4 vs. 13% or 2/52 vs. 15/69; p = 0.007], chest pain [4 vs. 23% or 2/52 vs. 16/69; p = 0.004] and rapid heart rate [12 vs. 28% or 6/52 vs. 19/69; p = 0.04]. Other complaints, including asthma, respiratory infections, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels and sleep disturbances were similar in thE[2] groups. Values of PEFR for shisha smokers and cigarette smokers were not significantly different
Conclusion: This study produced evidence suggesting that shisha smoking is not safer than cigarette smoking except with regard to complaints such as cough, chest pain and rapid heart rate, and that people who smoke both experience worse health effects in terms of frequent symptoms of respiratory infections, persistent cough, rapid heartbeat and sleep disturbances