RESEARCH - Hand function and performance of daily activities in SLE

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Arthritis Rheum. 2008 Sep 29;59(10):1432-1438.

Hand function and performance of daily activities in systemic lupus

erythematosus.

sson PM, Sandqvist G, Bengtsson A, Nived O.

Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate hand problems in patients with systemic

lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to explore consequences on the ability

to perform daily activities.

METHODS: One hundred nine patients with SLE completed a questionnaire

assessing hand problems in terms of deficits in body structures, e.g.,

joints, and body functions including pain, grip force, and other

physiologic functions of the hand, the Health Assessment Questionnaire

(HAQ), and the Simple hand test. Patients who stated problems in hand

function answered questions about performance of daily activities and

to what extent different deficits in body structures and body

functions interfered.

RESULTS: Seventy-three percent of patients experienced hand problems

and 42% reported interference with performance of daily activities.

Problems from body structures of the hand were distributed relatively

evenly over joints and tendons/muscles. Reduced grip force and

activity-induced pain were the most commonly reported problems in body

functions. The most affected activity area was productivity, namely

household tasks, work at home, work/study, and child care; least

affected was self-care. Reduced grip force followed by fumbling and

pain were the most frequently reported body functions to create

difficulties in performing daily activities. When comparing patients

with and without difficulties in performing daily activities, there

were significant differences in problems from tendons/muscles, joints

in the thumb, reduced force, stiffness, fumbling, numbness/tingling,

and the HAQ.

CONCLUSION: A majority of the study group had hand problems and almost

half of the group experienced difficulties in performing daily

activities due to SLE. The most affected activity area was

productivity, where reduced grip force, fumbling, and pain were the

most interfering body functions.

PMID: 18821662

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18821662

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