Author(s)

Vinicius Canello Kuhn, Daniele dos Santos Scarcella, Rosana Mayumi Suzuki, Ligia Cortez de Almeida, Nádia Lucila Rocha Brito, Marcia Uchoa de Rezende

Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of hand osteoarthritis (hOA) in a population with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) at baseline and one year following the administration of a multi-professional OA educational program correlating symptoms and changes in BMI with function questionnaires of the upper limbs and direct grip strength measurements. Design: Epidemiological study of the prevalence of hand OA in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire instruments (HAQ); Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand* (DASH); grip strength; and finger pinch were utilized, and the upper limbs symptoms were verified at baseline and one year following the educational program. Results: The prevalence of hOA was 23.7% at baseline and 47.4% at one year (incidence of 31.8% per year). The HAQ indicated that patients who did not alter or increased their BMI experienced worsened global strength, whereas patients who reduced BMI improved global strength (p = 0.041). Patients with higher initial BMIs experienced less improvement in the HAQ (r = -0.148, p = 0.041). The DASH results improved, but the right and left tripod grip worsened in all patients, irrespective of BMI change (p < 0.05) or symptoms at baseline and reassessment (p < 0.05). Pinch strength (right and left tripod and left pulp-pulp) was higher in patients without symptoms at baseline (p = 0.048, p = 0.045 and 0.033, respectively). Conclusions: The prevalence of hand OA increased for patients with OA undergoing an educational program irrespective of improved upper function and regardless of BMI change. Patients who decreased their BMI improved their global strength.

Hand Deformities, Acquired, Hand Strength, Osteoarthritis, Knee, Prevalence, Incidence, Health Education

Kuhn, V. , dos Santos Scarcella, D. , Suzuki, R. , de Almeida, L. , Brito, N. and de Rezende, M. (2016) Prevalence and Incidence of Hand Osteoarthritis and Upper Limb Complaints in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis. Correlations among Functionality, Grip Strength, Changes in Body Mass Index and Symptoms among Patients in an Educational Osteoarthritis Program. Open Journal of Orthopedics, 6, 1-9. doi: 10.4236/ojo.2016.61001.