What is the impact on work of osteoporotic fractures in active patients? A retrospective fracture-liaison-service study-Optiwork 1.

PURPOSE: Osteoporotic fractures have economic consequences and can alter the quality of life. Nevertheless, the direct impact on work has been infrequently reported. Our objective was to estimate the proportion of working patients resuming paid employment within the 3 months following an osteoporotic fracture, and to assess the consequences on their productivity and quality of life. METHODS: Patients aged between 45 and 64, screened by the Fracture Liaison Service of Hospital Paris Saint Joseph for a fragility fracture occurring between January 2017 and December 2018, and being paid employees at the time of the fracture, were included retrospectively. Medical data were extracted from electronic medical records. Self-reporting questionnaires concerning work activity and quality of life before and after the fracture were sent by post. RESULTS: Overall, 121 patients were included, with a mean age of 55.8; 82.6% of patients were female. Fracture of the lower extremity of the radius was the most frequent (38.2%), followed by the upper extremity of the humerus (23.1%). After the index fracture, 82.6% of the patients went back to work, including 76.0% within 3 months following the fracture. The median time to return to work was 2.2 months. Moreover, 19.8% of patients required adaptations of their current work. CONCLUSION: Osteoporotic fractures have a direct impact on work activity, causing work stoppages. Productivity at work and quality of life were also impacted. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Acute anterior uveitis in spondyloarthritis: a monocentric study of 301 patients.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the cumulative incidence of uveitis in spondyloarthritis (SpA) and its associated factors and to evaluate the effect of DMARD treatment on uveitis in a real-life setting. METHODS: A cross-sectional monocentric observational study (COSPA) was conducted. Patients with definite SpA underwent a face-to-face interview. General data and specific data concerning uveitis were collected. Cumulative incidence of uveitis flares was estimated by Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Factors associated with uveitis were determined by Cox analysis. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated by comparing the number of uveitis flares before/after treatment using Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: In total, 301 patients were included, 186 (61.8%) were men, with mean age and disease duration of 44.8 (±13.6) and 16.8 (±11.9) years, respectively. Among them, 82 (27.2%) had at least one uveitis flare. Prevalence of uveitis at the time of SpA diagnosis was 11.5 % (±1.9%) and increased over time to reach 39.3% (±4.1%) 20 years after diagnosis. HLA B27 positivity and heel pain were independently associated with uveitis (HR [IC 95%] = 4.5 [1.3-15.2] and 1.8 [1.1-2.9], respectively). A significant reduction in the number of uveitis before/after treatment was observed in patients treated with anti TNF monoclonal antibodies (n=27), (1.83 (±4.03) vs. 0.41 (±1.22), p=0.002), whereas it was not with etanercept (n=19), (0.44 (±0.70) and 0.79 (±1.36), p=NS). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of uveitis in SpA seems to increase with disease duration and seems more likely to appear with HLA B27 positivity and heel pain. Anti-TNF monoclonal antibodies seemed to be more effective in the reduction of uveitis flares.

Patient-perceived flares in rheumatoid arthritis: A sub-analysis of the STRASS treatment tapering strategy trial.

OBJECTIVES: Patient's and physician's perspective can differ in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim was to define the concept of patient-reported flares. METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial of a step-down strategy in RA patients treated with anti-TNF, in DAS28-remission for ≥6 months, randomized to either "spacing" or "maintaining" anti-TNF. The occurrence of patient-reported flares (PRF) was evaluated every 3 months for 18 months by: "Over the last 3 months, did you experience symptoms suggestive of disease exacerbation?". Visits with and without PRF were compared, using a linear mixed effects model, in terms of symptoms, disability based on the Health Assessment Questionnaire, quality of life based on Short Form 36 Health Survey and DAS28-based relapses (DBR), defined as an increase of DAS28>0.6 and an absolute value of DAS28>2.6. The agreement between PRF and DBR was measured by the kappa coefficient on repeated data. RESULTS: In all, 137 patients were analyzed: mean age 55±11 years, females 78%, mean RA duration 9.5±8.0 years. Over the 18 months, PRF concerned 27.2% of the 940 available visits. DBR and PRF were observed in 24% and 16% of 940 visits for 137 patients respectively. All the items were associated with PRF with standardized effect size between -0.58 (SF36 PCS) and 0.87 (DAS28). The agreement between PRF and DBR was moderate (κ=0.44). CONCLUSION: The concept of flare refers to more than just RA disease activity.

Preliminary definitions of 'flare' in axial spondyloarthritis, based on pain, BASDAI and ASDAS-CRP: an ASAS initiative.

INTRODUCTION: Flares may be used as outcomes in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) trials or observational studies. The objective was to develop a definition for 'flare' (or worsening) in axSpA, based on validated composite indices, to be used in the context of clinical trial design. METHODS: (1) Systematic literature review of definitions of 'flare' in published randomised controlled trials in axSpA. (2) Vignette exercise: 140 scenarios were constructed for a typical patient with axSpA seen at two consecutive visits. Each scenario included a change in one of the following outcomes: pain, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), BASDAI plus C-reactive protein (CRP) or Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)-CRP. Each Assessment of Spondyloarthritis (ASAS) expert determined if every scenario from a random sample of 46 scenarios was considered a flare (yes/no). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were applied to derive optimal cut-off values. (3) ASAS consensus was reached. RESULTS: (1) The literature review yielded 38 studies using some definition of 'flare', with 27 different definitions indicating important heterogeneity. The most frequent definitions were based on BASDAI changes or pain changes. (2) 121 ASAS experts completed 4999 flare assessments. The areas under the ROC curves were high (range: 0.88-0.89). Preliminary cut-offs for pain (N=3), BASDAI (N=5) and ASDAS-CRP (N=4) were chosen, with a range of sensitivity 0.60-0.99 and range of specificity 0.40-0.94 against the expert's opinions. CONCLUSIONS: This data-driven ASAS consensus process has led to 12 preliminary draft definitions of 'flare' in axSpA, based on widely used indices. These preliminary definitions will need validation in real patient data.

[Cervicobrachial neuralgia: frequent and sometimes very painful]. / Névralgie cervico-brachiale : fréquente et parfois très douloureuse.

Cervicobrachial neuralgia. Cervicobrachial neuralgia is a common reason of rheumatologist consultation. It can be defined as cervicalgia associated with radicular pain of the upper limb, caused by a nerve compression. The most frequent cause is a soft disc herniation. Gravity signs have to be researched by a methodic physical exam: neurological deficit, medullar compression. Imagery is recommended: X-rays, tomodensitometry and/or MRI of cervical spine. The treatment is a combination of medicinal and non medicinal therapies, and in some cases, a surgical intervention is required.

Névralgie cervico-brachiale. La névralgie cervicobrachiale est un motif de consultation fréquent en rhumatologie. Elle se traduit par une douleur cervicale et du membre supérieur, provoquée par la compression d'une racine nerveuse au niveau du rachis cervical. La cause la plus fréquente de compression radiculaire est l'existence d'une hernie discale cervicale. Les signes de gravité doivent être recherchés par un examen physique rigoureux : déficit sensitivo-moteur sur le territoire radiculaire ou signes de compression médullaire. Les examens d'imagerie sont les radiographies, la tomodensitométrie et/ou l'imagerie par résonance magnétique du rachis cervical. La prise en charge associe traitements médicamenteux et non médicamenteux, et parfois une sanction chirurgicale s'impose.