Sleep and immunity are bidirectionally linked. Immune system activation alters sleep, and sleep in turn affects the innate and adaptive arm of our body’s defense system. Stimulation of the immune s...

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The Sleep-Immune Crosstalk in Health and Disease

In this guideline on the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in adults, the American College of Physicians recommends a sleep study for patients with unexplained daytime sleepiness, polysomnograph...

http://rossleep.ru/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Rekomendatsii-ACH.pdf

Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians

Objectives (1) To investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics contributing to the delay from symptom onset to the first visit to a rheumatologist; (2) to compare clinical, radiographic and patient-reported outcome measures of those who saw a rheumatologist early in their disease course with those who were diagnosed later. Methods All psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, fulfilling CASPAR criteria, with an average disease duration of >10 years were invited for detailed clinical evaluation. The total lag time from symptom onset to their first rheumatological encounter was studied. The data were extracted from the referral letters and medical records. Patients were classified as early consulters or late consulters depending on whether they were seen by a rheumatologist within or beyond 6 months of symptom onset. Results 283 PsA patients were studied. Median lag time from the disease onset to the first rheumatological assessment of the cohort was 1.00 years (IQR 0.5–2). 30% (n=86), 53% (n=149) and 71% (n=202) of the cohort were seen by a rheumatologist within 6 months, 1 and 2 years of symptom onset, respectively. PsA patients with low education status (OR 2.09, p=0.02) and Body Mass Index (OR 0.92, p=0.01) were significantly more likely to have a diagnostic delay of >2 years. On multiple stepwise regression analysis, the model predicted significant association of late consulters with the development of peripheral joint erosions (OR 4.25, p=0.001) and worse Health Assessment Questionnaire scores (OR 2.2, p=0.004). Conclusions Even a 6-month delay from symptom onset to the first visit with a rheumatologist contributes to the development of peripheral joint erosions and worse long-term physical function.

https://ard.bmj.com/content/annrheumdis/74/6/1045.full.pdf

Diagnostic delay of more than 6 months contributes to poor radiographic and functional outcome in psoriatic arthritis

Heel pain, whether plantar or posterior, is predominantly a mechanical pathology although an array of diverse pathologies including neurologic, arthritic, traumatic, neoplastic, infectious, or vascular etiologies must be considered. This clinical practice guideline (CPG) is a revision of the original 2001 document developed by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) heel pain committee.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Heel Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline–Revision 2010

Objective
To assess currently available tools for measurement of enthesitis and to develop a new instrument specifically for use in psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

Methods
Twenty-eight patients with PsA underwent clinical assessment over a period of 6 months after change of disease-modifying therapy, usually to methotrexate Measures of enthesitis included the Mander Enthesitis Index (MEI), the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score, the Major index, and the Gladman index Data from these assessments were used to develop a new enthesitis index, the Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI)

Results
An iterative process of data reduction enabled derivation of the LEI index, which consisted of 6 sites: right and left Achilles insertions, medial femoral condyles, and lateral epicondyles of the humerus All measures showed significant change from baseline but only the LEI and Gladman indices showed a large effect size All indices demonstrated a floor effect (a score of 0 when the MEI is >0) but this was minimal for the LEI index All indices correlated strongly with each other and other measures of disease activity

Conclusion
The LEI is a new enthesitis index designed for use in PsA It shows good test characteristics that suggest it will be a robust and reliable assessment tool We suggest that it be adopted for use in any randomized controlled trials and longitudinal observation cohorts involving patients with PsA

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/art.23568

Measuring clinical enthesitis in psoriatic arthritis: assessment of existing measures and development of an instrument specific to psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives
Poor sleep is increasingly recognized as contributing to a decreased quality of life, increased morbidity/mortality and heightened pain perception. The purpose of the present study was to assess components of sleep quality and self-identified contributors to sleep fragmentation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patient populations.

Methods
Consecutive RA and OA clinic patients were invited to participate in a self-administered questionnaire study which included the validated multi-domain Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), visual analogue scales for pain, fatigue, global functioning, modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (mHAQ), stress scores, the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression (CES–D) score, the 36-item short form (SF-36) quality of life measure, the Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index (RADAI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Berlin score for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) risk and the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) diagnostic criteria.

Results
The study population included 145 RA and 78 OA patients. PSQI global scores were >5 in 62% of RA and 67% of OA patients. Multivariate analysis identified global functioning and the CES–D to be independent predictors for higher global PSQI scores in RA patients, whereas in OA patients predictors were the mHAQ and SF-36 mental component summary. Abnormalities in subjective sleep assessment, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction and increased sleep-aid medication use were observed in both populations. The most common abnormality reported by both RA and OA patients was increased sleep fragmentation. The most frequent self-identified cause for sleep disturbance was ‘need to use the washroom’ by 51% of RA and 49% of OA patients, and, second most common, ‘pain’ was identified as a cause for awakening by 33% of RA and 45% of OA patients.

Conclusions
A high prevalence of abnormal sleep quality in both RA and OA patient populations was observed. The most common abnormality was sleep fragmentation, with an increased sleep disturbance score. ‘Need to use the washroom’ and ‘pain’ were the most common self-identified reasons for awakening from sleep. A review of sleep hygiene, optimization of urological status, and rheumatological disease symptomatic control may prove beneficial in terms of sleep health. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Components of sleep quality and sleep fragmentation in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether rheumatologists experienced in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) assess peripheral and axial involvement in the same way and to consider core clinical measurements that should be included in clinical trials in PsA. METHODS: Ten patients with PsA, representing a broad range of joint inflammation, joint damage, and spinal involvement, were selected for the study. Each patient was examined by each of 10 rheumatologists, members of the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada, according to a Latin Square design. Assessments included scoring actively inflamed joints and damaged joints, dactylitis, enthesitis, and spinal measurements. Variance components analyses were conducted for continuous measurements based on models with observer, patient, and order effects. Estimates of intraclass correlation coefficients and associated 95% confidence intervals were obtained. RESULTS: There was substantial reliability in the assessment of the number of actively inflamed joints and excellent agreement in the number of damaged joints. Only moderate agreement was found for the number of digits with dactylitis. There was excellent agreement among observers in the intermalleolar distance measurements, but there was not as good agreement in the other measurements of spinal mobility. There was good agreement among the observers in detecting plantar fasciitis, however, the other entheses did not fare as well. CONCLUSION: In this first multicenter study of the assessment of clinical evaluation of patients with PsA we found that the assessment of peripheral joint disease is reliable although training should be performed prior to initiation of drug trials or comparative studies in this disease. The assessment of back measurements in PsA and other spondyloarthritis requires further study.

https://www.jrheum.org/content/jrheum/31/6/1126.full.pdf

The clinical assessment of patients with psoriatic arthritis: results of a reliability study of the spondyloarthritis research consortium of Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To use the 2003 International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) diagnostic criteria and to evaluate restless legs syndrome (RLS) prevalence in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) population. Further, we wished to evaluate physician awareness of this disorder by as reflected in prevalence of preexisting diagnoses of RLS in these populations. METHODS: This was a questionnaire study of Saskatchewan RA and OA patients enrolled in a longitudinal database study. A data collection instrument, including the 2003 IRLSSG criteria for RLS was distributed to the patients enrolled. RESULTS: Of the 193 respondents, 158 (81.9%) were women. The population consisted of 148 RA and 45 OA patients. RA patients were younger (mean age, 65.8 years) in comparison with those in the OA group (mean age, 72.8 years; P < 0.001). All criteria for RLS were met by 27.7% of RA patients and by 24.4% of OA patients. A previous diagnosis of RLS was reported by 2.6% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: A quarter of all our patients met the 2003 IRLSSG criteria, in both RA and OA groups; however, only 2.6% of study patients reported a previous diagnosis of RLS. As RLS can significantly affect quality of life, increased awareness with improvement in surveillance, recognition, and treatment would be beneficial to patient care. We advocate screening for symptoms of sleep disorders to be incorporated into the routine rheumatologic history for all patients with RA and OA.

Restless legs syndrome in a rheumatoid arthritis patient cohort.

Objective
The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients followed longitudinally using video-conferencing and inter-professional care support have comparable disease control to those followed in traditional in-person rheumatology clinics.

Methods
This was a randomized controlled trial for 85 RA patients allocated to either traditional in-person rheumatology follow-up or video-conferenced follow-up with urban-based rheumatologists and rural in-person physical therapist examiners. Follow-up was every 3 months for 9 months. Outcome measures included disease activity metrics (disease activity in 28 joints with CRP measure score [DAS28-CRP], and RA disease activity index [RADAI]), modified health assessment questionnaire (mHAQ), quality of life (EuroQOL five dimensions questionnaire [EQ5D]) and patient satisfaction (nine-item visit-specific satisfaction questionnaire [VSQ9]).

Results
Of 85 participants, 54 were randomized to the video-conferencing team model and 31 to the traditional clinic (control group). Dropout rates were high, with only 31 (57%) from the video-conferencing and 23 (74%) from the control group completing the study. The mean age for study participants was 56 years; 20% were male. Mean RA disease duration was 13.9 years. There were no significant between-group differences in DAS28-CRP, RADAI, mHAQ or EQ5D scores at baseline or over the study period. Satisfaction rates were high in both groups.

Conclusions
We found no evidence of a difference in effectiveness between inter-professional video-conferencing and traditional rheumatology clinic for both the provision of effective follow-up care and patient satisfaction for established RA patients. High dropout rates reinforce the need for consultation with patients' needs and preferences in developing models of care. While use of video-conferencing/telehealth technologies may be a distinct advantage for some patients, there may be loss of travel-related auxiliary benefits for others.

Addressing rural and remote access disparities for patients with inflammatory arthritis through video-conferencing and innovative inter-professional care models

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in humans and its prevalence rises with age. Oral NSAIDs have potential associated toxicities that must be monitored for and can limit the use of these drugs in certain populations including people of older age. Topical NSAIDs are now being recognized as an option for the treatment strategy of osteoarthritis. We review the efficacy and safety of one of the most common topical NSAIDS, topical diclofenac, for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/6/1892/pdf

Bindu Nair

Papers

Components of sleep quality and sleep fragmentation in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The clinical assessment of patients with psoriatic arthritis: results of a reliability study of the spondyloarthritis research consortium of Canada.

Restless legs syndrome in a rheumatoid arthritis patient cohort.

Addressing rural and remote access disparities for patients with inflammatory arthritis through video-conferencing and innovative inter-professional care models

A Review of Topical Diclofenac Use in Musculoskeletal Disease