Adults with painful hand osteoarthritis are invited to take part in this observational cohort study. The course of hand pain can vary and is not well understood - some people seem to have short episodes of worsening pain ('flares') and the trend (or 'trajectory') over a longer period of time may be of improvement, staying stable or worsening. The study aims to identify and define different pain trajectories in hand OA, including factors which may predict the future course of pain in the condition. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, currently all study related activities are being carried out remotely (online, by post, by phone).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
120
Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
London, United Kingdom
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Oxford, United Kingdom
To identify and define different pain trajectories in hand OA.
Average hand pain (daily rating)
Time frame: 6 months
To identify predictors of pain trajectories in hand OA.
Trajectory Category (as determined by the primary objective), which may include persistent stable, persistent worsening, resolving, fluctuating, presence of flares
Time frame: 6 months
To test whether there is an association between changes in sex hormone levels and hand pain severity over time within an individual
Hand pain (0 to 10 on a numerical rating scale)
Time frame: The previous 7 days and for 7 days after the study visit, up to 6 months
To identify whether pre-defined variables are: a) Baseline predictors of flare/change during the study b) Associated with the presence of flare/change in hand symptoms
Presence of flare/change in hand pain (yes/no) as self-reported by the participant
Time frame: 6 months, 2 years 5 years
To characterise features of a flare in hand OA
Clinical history (antecedent events, sleep quality and disturbance, analgesic use); Pain measures: to identify a numerical definition (0-10 on NRS) of pain flare in hand OA; Duration of a flare; Morning stiffness (minutes); Clinical examination including Grip Strength; Hand Function (Functional Index for Hand Osteoarthritis (FIHOA) Questionnaire); Brief Pain Inventory Short Form; Global Well-being Visual Analogue Scale (0-100); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); Anger/Frustration Short Form questionnaire (PROMIS); Features on hand photograph; Acoustic emission from hand movements
Time frame: At time of self reported flare (the previous 7 days and for 7 days after the study visit)
To assess the following optional features: a) Use of local daily weather recordings and study its association with daily hand pain rating b) Identification of any acoustic emissions that are associated with features of hand OA
Daily weather recording, derived from a Meteorological Service website (including temperature, pressure, humidity, precipitation, wind speed) Acoustic emissions from hand movements
Time frame: 6 months
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