Hand function in women and men with early rheumatoid arthritis. A prospective study over three years (the Swedish TIRA project)

Abstract

Objective: To describe the course of hand function in women and men during the first 3 years after diagnosis of recent‐onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA), to investigate sex differences in hand function, and to study correlations between and within hand function assessments.

Methods: A total of 276 patients (69% women) with RA of a maximal duration of 12 months were recruited to the study. Hand function was assessed by the Grip Ability Test (GAT) and Signals of Functional Impairment (SOFI). Peak and average grip force over 10 s in the right and left hand was measured by an electronic device.

Results: Hand function was affected at diagnosis, but had improved significantly at the 3‐months' follow‐up and then remained stable (but still affected) in both women and men. As assessed by SOFI, hand function was worse in men than in women, whereas women had significantly lower grip force. GAT, grip force, and SOFI correlated weakly. The average and peak values of grip force correlated strongly, as did the grip force in the right and the left hand.

Conclusion: Hand function was profoundly affected at diagnosis of RA, but improved significantly within 3 months and remained stable (but still affected) over 3 years. As expected, women on average had significantly lower grip force than men.