Arthritis care & research
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Arthritis care & research · Jun 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEstimation of minimum clinically important difference for pain in fibromyalgia.
To estimate the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for several pain measures obtained from the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) for patients with fibromyalgia. ⋯ In these analyses, the MCIDs for several pain measures obtained from the BPI were similar (∼2 points) and corresponded to a 30-35% improvement from baseline to end point. These findings may be beneficial for use in designing clinical trials in which the BPI is used to evaluate improvements in pain severity.
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Arthritis care & research · May 2011
Patterns of medication use during pregnancy in rheumatoid arthritis.
To characterize therapies prescribed during pregnancy to women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ Approximately 24% of women with RA received a DMARD in the 180 days before conception, and the proportion dropped during pregnancy. Glucocorticoid use remained high throughout pregnancy. Our results suggest that continued efforts directed at counseling women and their physicians about the potential risks/benefits of RA therapies during pregnancy are warranted.
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Arthritis care & research · May 2011
Role of road traffic accidents and other traumatic events in the onset of chronic widespread pain: Results from a population-based prospective study.
To determine the relationship between physically traumatic events and the onset of chronic widespread pain (CWP). ⋯ This study provides support for the "at risk" phenotype hypothesis, where individuals characterized by poorer health and psychological variables may be predisposed to develop CWP following a traumatic trigger. However, although this has been seen with road traffic accidents, it is not the case with other events. Future research should examine what is peculiar about an accident, or about one's reaction to it, that confers this increase in the risk of CWP onset.
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Arthritis care & research · Apr 2011
Review Meta AnalysisSystematic review and meta-analysis: anti-tumor necrosis factor α therapy and cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis.
Control of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. We sought to systematically assess the association between anti-tumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNFα) therapy in RA and cardiovascular event rates. ⋯ Anti-TNFα therapy is associated with a reduced risk of all cardiovascular events, MI, and CVA in observational cohorts. There was heterogeneity among cohort studies and possible publication bias. The point estimate of the effect from RCTs is underpowered with wide 95% CIs, and cardiovascular events were secondary outcomes, but RCTs also demonstrated a trend toward decreased risk.
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Arthritis care & research · Mar 2011
Impact of hallux valgus severity on general and foot-specific health-related quality of life.
To explore the prevalence of and factors associated with hallux valgus and to assess the impact of hallux valgus severity on general and foot-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older people. ⋯ There is a progressive reduction in both general and foot-specific HRQOL with increasing severity of hallux valgus deformity.