Working life and physical activity in ankylosing spondylitis pre and post anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy.

AIM: To assess effects of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) on working life and physical activity in Australia; to quantify changes in working life and physical activity that occur after anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) treatment; and to assess efficacy of anti-TNF-α therapy for AS in an Australian context. METHODS: This is a multi-centre observational study of people with AS on anti-TNF-α therapy. All participants satisfied the New York Modified Criteria and had active and refractory disease at anti-TNF-α therapy commencement. Participation involved a standardized interview, a metrology assessment, assessment of disease remission and medical record review. Interviews and patients' records were used to compare working life (employment, sick leave and productivity) and physical activity (participation rate, hours/week, and physical intensity) between the pre-AS, post-AS and post-anti-TNF-α therapy periods. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients took part. Participants were on average 44.8 years old, predominately male (86.5%) and had been on anti-TNF-α therapy for 29 months; 39% were in partial remission and 75% had 50% reduction in the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). Responders to anti-TNF-α therapy were 10.5 years younger than non-responders (P = 0.004). Post-anti-TNF-α therapy participants gained 6.6 h/week of work (P = 0.02), and productivity improved 31% (P < 0.001) compared to immediately prior to commencing treatment. Physical activity participation increased from 71% to 85% (P = 0.039) and activity intensity increased by 33% (P = 0.002) post-treatment. Participants gained 1.8 h/week of sport (P = 0.001) and 2.2 h/week of recreational physical activity (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Australians with AS have their working life and physical activity severely affected by this disease. Treatment with anti-TNF-α therapy results in significant improvement in these parameters.

Secondary prevention of osteoporosis post minimal trauma fracture in an Australian regional and rural population.

OBJECTIVE: Minimal trauma fracture (MTF) is an indication of osteoporosis and risk of future fracture. Our objective was to describe osteoporosis risk identification and secondary prevention in a regional and rural population hospitalised for an MTF. DESIGN: A retrospective inpatient file audit and follow-up telephone interview. SETTING: Patients aged 45 years and over admitted for MTF management to two regional hospitals in northern New South Wales between July 2006 and June 2007. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of patients who received bone mineral densitometry (BMD) assessment and proportion commenced on osteoporosis medication post fracture. RESULTS: There were 459 patients included in our inpatient file audit. During admission only 16% had osteoporosis risk documented, uptake of vitamin D assay or BMD were minimal and only 22% were discharged on preventive medication. Of 219 patients contacted post discharge, 36% reported discussing osteoporosis risk with their GPs, 22% reported post-discharge BMD and 32% were taking a bisphosphonate. Men were less likely to have commenced preventive medication (OR 0.42, CI, 0.19-0.91) and patients informed of their osteoporosis risk during hospitalisation were more likely to have had BMD (OR 1.93, CI, 1.03-3.61). Neither age nor history of previous MTF was predictive of preventive treatment post discharge. CONCLUSION: Overall, fracture risk identification and initiation of secondary prevention in this regional and rural population was low and this is consistent with findings in recent metropolitan studies. Effective regional and rural strategies are required that ensure identification and effective communication of risk to patients and their GPs.