METHOD: One hundred RA patients and 50 healthy controls, sex- and age-matched, were recruited. Disease Activity Score of 28 joints and Health Assessment Questionnaire scores were assessed. Baseline serum 25(OH)D3 and IL-6 were measured in all subjects. RA patients who were vitamin D deficient were given loading doses of vitamin D3 and repeated assessments were done.
RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/L) was found in 63% of RA patients and 76% of healthy controls. Chinese RA patients and healthy controls had significantly more sufficient 25(OH)D3 levels compared to Malays and Indians (P
METHOD: A prospective cross-sectional study of 60 SSc patients were evaluated for large fiber neuropathy using the modified clinical Total Neuropathy Score (cTNS) and nerve conduction study (NCS) of the upper and lower limbs. A combination of clinical (cTNS score ≥ 2) and NCS criteria (≥2 abnormal nerves including 1 sural [symmetrical polyneuropathy] and NCS abnormalities consistent with individual nerves/nerve roots [focal neuropathy]) was used to diagnose peripheral neuropathy.
RESULTS: The majority had limited cutaneous subset (75%). Mean age was 55.73 (SD ± 13.04) years and mean disease duration was 8.61 (SD ± 8.09) years. Twenty-two (36.7%) had combined clinical and NCS criteria for peripheral neuropathy, 14 (23.3%) with symmetrical polyneuropathy and 8 (13.3%) with focal neuropathy. Symmetrical polyneuropathy patients had significantly lower hemoglobin levels (11.2 vs. 12.35 g/L; P = .047). Serum vitamin B12 levels were normal, therefore excluding vitamin B12 deficiency. No other associations were found for both polyneuropathy and focal neuropathy with demography, co-morbid diseases and SSc disease factors such as Raynaud's phenomenon and modified Rodnan skin score.
CONCLUSION: Large fiber neuropathy is common in SSc patients, which could contribute to non-lethal burden in SSc with sensory loss and muscle weakness. Apart from lower hemoglobin in polyneuropathy, there were no associations with disease-specific features or co-morbid diseases.
OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the leading causes of all-cause hospitalizations and their predictive factors in the Malaysian multi-ethnic SLE patients.
METHODS: This is a retrospective study involving 300 SLE patients. Demographic data and details of hospitalizations from the year 1988 until 2019 were reviewed. Baseline and latest disease activity (SLEDAI-2 K) and SLICC/ACR damage index (SDI) scores were evaluated. To be eligible for this study, their SLE diagnosis and disease duration was at least one year; this is to ensure that the baseline disease damages were measured at least after 6 months of diagnosis and subsequent disease damage indexes were captured.
RESULTS: Majority were of Chinese ethnicity 150 (50%). The cohort's median age was 48 (18-82) years and median disease duration was 13 (1-52) years. 133 (44.3%) had SDI score of ≥1 at baseline (early damage). 69 (23%) had developed new organ damage during this study period.There were 222 (74%) patients ever hospitalized from this cohort. The main cause of hospitalization was lupus flare which included concurrent infection (n = 415 admissions, 46%), followed by elective admissions for procedures and others (n = 284 admissions, 31.5%). Admissions for treatment and disease related complications were 13.8%. 8.7% of admissions were due to infections alone. Median length of stay for SLE-related cause admissions was longer compared to non-SLE related causes. Jointly predictive factors for hospitalization were anti-phospholipid syndrome (OR 5.82), anti-Smith (OR 6.30), anti-SSA (OR 3.37), serositis (OR 14.56), neurological (OR 5.52) and high baseline SDI (OR 1.74), all p
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate fatigue, identify factors associated with fatigue and assess the effect of fatigue on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a multi-ethnic cohort of RA patients.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in patients who fulfilled European League Against Rheumatism/ American College of Rheumatology 2010 criteria for RA. Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue (FACIT-F) questionnaire was used to assess fatigue. Potential factors for fatigue were categorized into RA-related (gender, seropositivity [rheumatoid factor and/or anti-citrullinated protein antibody], disease duration, visual analog scale pain score, Disease Activity Score of 28 joints - erythrocyte sedimentation rate [DAS28-ESR], ESR, hemoglobin level, functional disability [Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index, HAQ-DI score], EQ-5D-3L, concomitant prednisolone use and number of conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs [csDMARDs] used) and non-RA-related (age, body mass index, ethnicity and number of co-morbidities).
RESULTS: A total of 214 patients (86.9% female) were included; the median age was 62 (25-91) years and 67.3% were seropositive. Seventy-six (33.5%) patients had moderate disease activity, 12 (5.6%) had high disease activity and 152 (71%) patients had mild difficulties to moderate disability HAQ-DI scores. Median of total FACIT-F score was 113.2 (36.3-160.0). Joint factors of younger age, longer disease duration, higher HAQ score (increased functional disability), and lower EQ-5D (poorer HRQoL) were significantly associated with higher levels of fatigue (all P
METHODS: A 12-week international online survey was launched in 14 languages on 6 April 2020. Forty-one research institutions from Europe, Western-Asia, North-Africa, and the Americas, promoted the survey. The survey was presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "pre" and "during" the lockdown period. Participants responded to the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
RESULTS: Replies from older adults (aged >55 years, n = 517), mainly from Europe (50.1%), Western-Asia (6.8%), America (30%), and North-Africa (9.3%) were analyzed. The COVID-19 lockdown led to significantly decreased mental wellbeing, sleep quality, and total physical activity energy expenditure levels (all p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that the change in total PSQI score and total physical activity energy expenditure (F(2, 514) = 66.41 p < 0.001) were significant predictors of the decrease in mental wellbeing from pre- to during lockdown (p < 0.001, R2: 0.20).
CONCLUSION: COVID-19 lockdown deleteriously affected physical activity and sleep patterns. Furthermore, change in the total PSQI score and total physical activity energy expenditure were significant predictors for the decrease in mental wellbeing.
METHODS: Thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia, and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, in 7 languages (English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and Slovenian). Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "before" and "during" confinement conditions.
RESULTS: 1047 participations (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%), and others (3%) were included in the analysis. Findings revealed psychosocial strain during the enforced COVID-19 home confinement. Large decreases (p < 0.001) in the amount of social activity through family (-58%), friends/neighbors (-44.9%), or entertainment (-46.7%) were triggered by the enforced confinement. These negative effects on social participation were also associated with lower life satisfaction (-30.5%) during the confinement period. Conversely, the social contact score through digital technologies significantly increased (p < 0.001) during the confinement period with more individuals (+24.8%) being socially connected through digital technology.
CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the early COVID-19 home confinement period in 2020. Therefore, in order to mitigate the negative psychosocial effects of home confinement, implementation of national strategies focused on promoting social inclusion through a technology-based solution is strongly suggested.
METHODS: The ECLB-COVID19 electronic survey was designed by a steering group of multidisciplinary scientists, following a structured review of the literature. The survey was uploaded and shared on the Google online-survey-platform and was promoted by thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North-Africa, Western-Asia and the Americas. All participants were asked for their mental wellbeing (SWEMWS) and depressive symptoms (SMFQ) with regard to "during" and "before" home confinement.
RESULTS: Analysis was conducted on the first 1047 replies (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other (3%). The COVID-19 home confinement had a negative effect on both mental-wellbeing and on mood and feelings. Specifically, a significant decrease (p < .001 and Δ% = 9.4%) in total score of the SWEMWS questionnaire was noted. More individuals (+12.89%) reported a low mental wellbeing "during" compared to "before" home confinement. Furthermore, results from the mood and feelings questionnaire showed a significant increase by 44.9% (p < .001) in SMFQ total score with more people (+10%) showing depressive symptoms "during" compared to "before" home confinement.
CONCLUSION: The ECLB-COVID19 survey revealed an increased psychosocial strain triggered by the home confinement. To mitigate this high risk of mental disorders and to foster an Active and Healthy Confinement Lifestyle (AHCL), a crisis-oriented interdisciplinary intervention is urgently needed.