Relationship of callosities of the forefoot with foot deformity, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, and joint damage score in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the relationship of callosities of the forefoot with foot deformity, the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and modified total Sharp score (TSS) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A total of 202 patients and 404 feet were enrolled. We examined the prevalence of callosities. Clinical data included the HAQ-DI, TSS, hallux valgus angle (HVA), and calcaneal pitch angle (CPA). The analysis of factors associated with callosities of the forefoot was performed by comparing patients with and without callosities of the forefoot.

Results: The prevalence of callosities was 31.2% of all patients and 24.0% of all feet. The patients with callosities of the forefoot had significantly higher TSS of the foot. The presence of callosities affected the HAQ-DI walking score. HVA and CPA were identified as being associated with callosities of the forefoot. Analyzing from the cutoff values, the odds ratios of HVA, CPA, and HVA and (combined) CPA were 4.64, 1.73, and 2.99, respectively.

Conclusion: Hallux valgus and flatfoot were related to callosities of the forefoot in RA. This study suggested that to prevent callosities of the forefoot, early diagnosis and foot care for hallux valgus and flatfoot are needed in daily practice.

Keywords:

• Callosities
• foot deformity
• hallux valgus
• flatfoot
• rheumatoid arthritis

Conflict of interest

T. Mochizuki received honorariums for lectures from AbbVie, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan Co., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Mochida Pharma Co., and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. K. Yano received honorariums for lectures from Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. K. Ikari received honorariums for lectures and/or unrestricted research grants from AbbVie, Inc., Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp., Astellas Pharma Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Eisai Co., Ltd. Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. The sponsors were not involved in the study design; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing of the paper; and/or decision to submit the results for publication.