Significant others in inflammatory arthritis: roles, influences, and challenges-a scoping review.

Improving self-management in individuals with inflammatory arthritis (IA) is crucial for effective disease management. However, current recommendations primarily focus on interventions for the diagnosed individuals, overlooking the potential impact of their significant others on their self-management abilities. This review aims to fill this gap by identifying and mapping relevant research employing both qualitative and quantitative design to provide a broader understanding of the potential of significant others in relation to IA management. We examined studies published from 2007 to 2024 that explore our research questions using electronic databases and grey literature searches. Two independent reviewers meticulously screened and categorized the studies based on a developed framework employing basic content analysis. Out of 20.925 studies, 43 were included: 22 quantitative studies (including 1 educational trial), 20 qualitative studies, and 1 mixed-methods study. Our analysis of the included studies revealed that significant others predominantly provided practical and emotional support and could positively or negatively influence the person with IAs self-management abilities. Additionally, significant others reported their own feelings of emotional distress and expressed the need for knowledge, skills and social support enabling them to provide better support while taking care of them self. Greater focus on the significant others of those diagnosed with IA in their provision of support to this patient group may both improve the people with IA self-management skills and address significant others' reported needs. Future studies should explore the impact of such initiatives through randomized controlled trials.

Long-Term Effect of a Tablet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Group Intervention on Step Count, Fatigue, Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life in Older Adults With Arthritis: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term effect of a tablet-based, cognitive-behavioral group intervention (Tab-G) to improve daily walking for older adults with arthritis. METHOD: Using an experimental pretest/posttest repeated measure design, long-term effects on step count, fatigue, self-efficacy, and quality of life (QOL) were investigated. RESULTS: Results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed significant improvement in step counts (F[1, 37] = 4.18, p = 0.048), fatigue (F[1, 36] = 9.971, p = 0.003), self-efficacy (F[1,28] = 4.645, p = 0.04), and QOL (F[1, 29] = 6.147, p = 0.019) in the Tab-G group compared to the control group. There were significant time effects across four time points (baseline and Weeks 4, 8, and 10) in fatigue (F[3, 108] = 5.43, p = 0.002), self-efficacy (F[3, 84] = 5.433, p = 0.002), and QOL (F[3, 87] = 3.673, p = 0.015), but not in step counts (F[3, 111] = 0.611, p = 0.609). CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrate positive long-term effects on fatigue in older adults with arthritis. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(5), 35-42.].

Personality and Risk of Arthritis in Six Longitudinal Samples.

OBJECTIVES: Personality traits are broadly related to medical conditions, but there is limited research on the association with the risk of arthritis. This multicohort study examines the concurrent and prospective associations between personality traits and arthritis risk. METHODS: Participants (N > 45,000) were mostly middle-aged and older adults from 6 established longitudinal cohorts. Baseline assessments of personality traits, covariates (age, sex, education, race, ethnicity, depressive symptoms, body mass index, and smoking), and arthritis diagnosis were obtained in each sample. Arthritis incidence was assessed over 8-20 years of follow-up. RESULTS: The meta-analyses identified an association between higher neuroticism and an increased risk of concurrent (odds ratio = 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16-1.24; p < .001, I2 = 40.27) and incident (hazard ratio = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.08-1.14; p < .001, I2 = 0) arthritis and between higher conscientiousness and a decreased risk of concurrent (odds ratio = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.86-0.90; p < .001, I2 = 0) and incident (hazard ratio = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92-0.98; p = .002, I2 = 41.27) arthritis. Higher extraversion was linked to lower risk of concurrent (odds ratio = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.88-0.96; p < .001, I2 = 76.09) and incident (hazard ratio = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.95-0.99; p = .018, I2 = 0) arthritis, and openness was related to lower risk of concurrent arthritis (odds ratio = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.93-0.99; p = .006, I2 = 35.86). Agreeableness was unrelated to arthritis. These associations were partially accounted for by depressive symptoms, body mass index, and smoking. There was no consistent evidence of moderation by age or sex. DISCUSSION: Findings from 6 samples point to low neuroticism and higher conscientiousness as factors that reduce the risk of arthritis.

Nature-Based Group Exercises for People With Arthritis: A Qualitative Along-Side Interview Study of Lived Experiences.

Arthritis affects many individuals and can cause pain and limit physical functioning. Exercise is an important treatment option for individuals with arthritis; however, adherence to exercise programs can be challenging. A new initiative in Denmark has introduced nature-based exercises for patients with arthritis. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of the individuals who participated in those exercises. The study used a hermeneutic-phenomenological approach and conducted along-side interviews with 12 women and three men who participated in nature-based exercise programs for arthritis. Analysis of the data revealed two main themes. The first theme highlighted the positive effects of being in nature, such as increased vitality, reduced pain, and a sense of well-being. The second theme emphasized the social benefits of participating in these exercises, including a sense of connection and community with others. Overall, this study suggests that incorporating nature-based exercises in treatment programs for arthritis could have significant benefits for individuals with this condition.

The Experience With Health Care of Patients With Inflammatory Arthritis: A Cross-sectional Survey Using the Instrument to Evaluate the Experience of Patients With Chronic Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Patients' experience with health care is becoming a key component for the provision of a patient-centered health care model. The aim of this study was to assess the experience with health care of patients with inflammatory arthritis and patient- and health care-related factors. METHODS: Patients responded to an anonymous survey provided by their treating clinical teams. The survey comprised the validated 12-item IEXPAC (Instrument to Evaluate the EXperience of PAtients with Chronic diseases) tool and demographic variables and health care-related characteristics that may affect patients' experience. RESULTS: A total of 359 of 625 surveys were returned (response rate, 57.4%). Overall, patient responses were positive (>60% gave "always/mostly" answers) for statements assessing the interaction between patients and health care professionals or patient self-management following health care professional guidance. However, positive patient responses for items regarding patient interaction with the health care system via the internet or with other patients were less than 13%. Only 25.6% of patients who had been hospitalized reported receiving a follow-up call or visit following discharge. In the bivariate analysis, experience scores were higher (better experience) in men, those seen by fewer specialists or by the same physician, and in patients treated with a fewer number of drugs or with subcutaneous/intravenous drugs. Multivariate analyses identified regular follow-up by the same physician and treatment with subcutaneous/intravenous drugs as variables associated with a better patient experience. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies areas of care for patients with inflammatory arthritis with the potential to improve patients' experience and highlights the importance of patient-physician relationships and comprehensive patient care.

Fatherhood Experiences of Men With Inflammatory Arthritis: A Preliminary Grounded Theory.

OBJECTIVE: Minimal prior research has examined the impact of inflammatory arthritis (IA) on men's perspectives on parenting. We aimed to describe fathering roles and experiences, the effect of IA on parenting activities, and strategies used by fathers with IA to fulfill this role. METHODS: A grounded theory approach guided data gathering and analysis. Nine men with IA, parenting at least 1 child age <19 years, were recruited through rheumatology practices, therapy clinics, and social media. Each engaged in 1 in-depth personal interview. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive and iterative steps to identify key themes and a preliminary explanatory framework of fathering experiences of men with IA. RESULTS: All men were married, ages 31-62 years, with 1 to 5 children ages 6 months to 28 years. "Being an involved father" describes participants' perspectives on fulfilling their role as hands-on parents, role models, and financial providers. "Taking ownership" explains how participants managed daily life, comprising 2 subthemes, "taking care of yourself," using strategies like exercise and communicating with loved ones, and "redefining yourself," a process of adapting to reframed identity and lifestyle adjustments. "Accessing support" indicates men who felt well-supported by social networks (most critically their wives), health care providers, and informational and educational resources. CONCLUSION: This small, grounded theory study offers an enriched understanding of fatherhood experiences of men with IA. When social, practical, and educational supports are in place, these men found parenting joyful and rewarding. Despite task limitations, their perspectives on being involved fathers was unrestricted by arthritis.

Participation in Informal Caregiving Among People With Arthritis: Findings From a Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the joint pain and significant dysfunction that characterizes arthritis, many people with arthritis continue to carry out everyday duties and responsibilities. The objective of the present study was to describe participation in informal caregiving (unpaid assistance to someone with a health issue or limitation) among people with arthritis. METHODS: Analysis of baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a nationally representative sample of people ages 45-85 years (n = 21,241), was performed. A questionnaire covering sociodemographic, health, and caregiving variables was completed by each study participant. Caregiving variables examined characteristics of the person who received the most care from the questionnaire respondent, as well as the types of caregiving (e.g., hands-on versus hands-off tasks) and amount of care provided (e.g., hours per week). RESULTS: There was no difference in the proportion of people with and without arthritis who provided informal care (46%). Individuals with arthritis reported worse health, but this did not affect the likelihood of providing care, nor the types or amount of care provided. Caregivers with and without arthritis were most likely to provide fewer than 7 hours per week of care, and the most common type of care was characterized as hands-off, particularly transportation assistance. Men were just as likely to provide care as women but were less likely to provide high intensity care or perform hands-on tasks. CONCLUSION: Despite reporting worse health on average, people with arthritis were just as likely as people without arthritis to provide informal care. The need to provide informal care among people with arthritis may impact their ability to engage in self-management activities for their arthritis.

Social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to worse outcomes in females with inflammatory arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged social isolation as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic has been a source of considerable psychological distress for many people. This can manifest in many ways and if left undetected can impact negatively on general health. It is essential to understand the impact of these conditions on inflammatory arthritis (IA) patients, especially axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA). AIM: To capture the level of psychological distress for patients with IA following prolonged social isolation. METHODS: A survey was sent out to patients with a confirmed diagnosis of IA. This captured changes in sleep, mood, disease activity, employment and general health since the beginning of the social isolation period. A PHQ-4 (Patient Health Questionnaire) was included to determine level of psychological distress. RESULTS: Females with IA reported significantly higher rates of decline in general health (40% vs 16%, p = 0.01), mood disturbance (43.4% vs 26%, p = 0.03) and increased disease activity (50% vs 16%, p = 0.01) compared to males. Evaluating the mean PHQ-4 scores, no significant difference was noted between genders (4.80 vs 3.44, p = 0.10). However, females demonstrated a non-significant trend toward increased rates of moderate to severe psychological distress (40% vs 30%, p = 0.13). Subanalysis of patients with axSpA found high rates of moderate to severe distress in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: Females with IA reported significantly higher rates of decline in general health, mood disturbance and increased disease activity during the period of social isolation. This was reflected in a trend towards greater levels of psychological distress.

Depressive Symptoms and the Arthritis-Employment Interface: A Population-Level Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between depressive symptoms, arthritis, and employment, and to determine whether this relationship differs across young, middle-age, and older working-age adults with arthritis. METHODS: Data from the US National Health Interview Survey from 2013-2017 were analyzed. Analyses were restricted to adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis of working age (ages 18-64 years) with complete data on depressive symptoms (n = 11,380). Covariates were sociodemographic information, health, and health system utilization variables. Employment prevalence was compared by self-reported depressive symptoms. We estimated percentages, as well as univariable and multivariable logistic regression models, to examine the relationship between depression and employment among young adults (ages 18-34 years), middle-age adults (ages 35-54 years), and older adults (ages 55-64 years). RESULTS: Among all working-age US adults with arthritis, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 13%. Those reporting depressive symptoms had a higher prevalence of fair/worse health (60%) and arthritis-attributable activity limitations (70%) compared to those not reporting depression (23% and 39%, respectively). Respondents with depressive symptoms reported significantly lower employment prevalence (30%) when compared to those not reporting depressive symptoms (66%) and lower multivariable-adjusted association with employment (prevalence ratio 0.88 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.83-0.93]). Middle-age adults reporting depression were significantly less likely to be employed compared to their counterparts without depression (prevalence ratio 0.83 [95% CI 0.77-0.90]); similar but borderline statistically significant relationships were observed for both young adults (prevalence ratio 0.86 [95% CI 0.74-0.99]) and older adults (prevalence ratio 0.94 [95% CI 0.86-1.03]). CONCLUSION: For adults with arthritis, depressive symptoms are associated with not participating in employment. Strategies to reduce arthritis-related work disability may be more effective if they simultaneously address mental health.

Tweets by People With Arthritis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Content and Sentiment Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that people with arthritis are reporting increased physical pain and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, Twitter's daily usage has surged by 23% throughout the pandemic period, presenting a unique opportunity to assess the content and sentiment of tweets. Individuals with arthritis use Twitter to communicate with peers, and to receive up-to-date information from health professionals and services about novel therapies and management techniques. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to identify proxy topics of importance for individuals with arthritis during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore the emotional context of tweets by people with arthritis during the early phase of the pandemic. METHODS: From March 20 to April 20, 2020, publicly available tweets posted in English and with hashtag combinations related to arthritis and COVID-19 were extracted retrospectively from Twitter. Content analysis was used to identify common themes within tweets, and sentiment analysis was used to examine positive and negative emotions in themes to understand the COVID-19 experiences of people with arthritis. RESULTS: In total, 149 tweets were analyzed. The majority of tweeters were female and were from the United States. Tweeters reported a range of arthritis conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and psoriatic arthritis. Seven themes were identified: health care experiences, personal stories, links to relevant blogs, discussion of arthritis-related symptoms, advice sharing, messages of positivity, and stay-at-home messaging. Sentiment analysis demonstrated marked anxiety around medication shortages, increased physical symptom burden, and strong desire for trustworthy information and emotional connection. CONCLUSIONS: Tweets by people with arthritis highlight the multitude of concurrent concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding these concerns, which include heightened physical and psychological symptoms in the context of treatment misinformation, may assist clinicians to provide person-centered care during this time of great health uncertainty.

Stakeholder views of podiatry services in the UK for people living with arthritis: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the views of stakeholders in podiatry services, patients, commissioners and general practitioners (GP), to further understand experiences of referral, access and provision of treatment in the National Health Service (NHS) for foot problems for patients living with arthritis. METHOD: To explore in-depth individual views and experiences of stakeholders in podiatry services, 19 patients who had arthritis (osteoarthritis and/or rheumatoid arthritis) participated in one of four focus groups. In addition, seven commissioners and/or GPs took part in semi structured interviews. A purposive sampling strategy was adopted for all focus groups and semi structured interviews. To account for geographical variations, the focus groups and semi structured interviews were conducted across two predetermined regions of the United Kingdom (UK), Yorkshire and Hampshire. Data was rendered anonymous and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key meanings and report patterns within the data. RESULTS: Five key themes derived from the focus groups and interviews suggest a variety of factors influencing referral, access and provision of treatment for foot problems within the UK. 1. Systems working together (navigation of different care pathways, access and referral opportunities for people with OA or RA, education around foot health services for people with OA or RA); 2.Finance (financial variations, different care systems, wasting resources); 3. Understanding what podiatry services have to offer (podiatrists are leaders in foot health services, service requirements in relation to training standards and health needs); 4. Person factors of foot pain (arthritis is invisible, affects quality of life, physical and mental wellbeing); 5. Facilitators of foot care (NICE guidelines, stakeholder events, supporting self-management strategies). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that patients, commissioners and GPs have very similar experiences of referral, access and provision of treatment for foot problems, for patients living with arthritis. Essentially, commissioners and GPs interviewed called for a transformational approach in current systems to include newer models of care that meet the footcare needs of individual patient circumstances. Patients interviewed called for better signposting and information about the different services available to help them manage their foot health needs. To address this, we have formulated a signposting pack for all stakeholders to help them facilitate access to appropriate clinicians 'at the right time, in the right place' to manage foot health problems.

Rehabilitation in warm climate for young adults with inflammatory arthritis: A 12-month randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if an intensive rehabilitation programme, including intensive exercise and patient education, for young adults with inflammatory arthritis, conducted in a warm climate, has long-term effects on general health status compared with usual care. DESIGN: Open randomized controlled trial. PATIENTS: A total of 64 patients with inflammatory arthritis, aged 20-35 years. METHODS: Patients underwent randomized allocation to an intensive 17-day rehabilitation programme in a warm climate (intervention group) or to usual care with no structured rehabilitation (control group). The primary outcomes were physical function, assessed by the "30-second Sit to Stand test"(30sSTS), and coping, measured by the "Effective Musculoskeletal Consumer Scale" (EC17). RESULTS: A total of 64 patients (mean age 27.5 years, 62.5% female) were randomized. Thirty out of 32 patients completed the intervention. At 12-month follow-up, 7 patients were lost to follow-up; 4 from the intervention group and 3 from the control group. The intervention group showed significant improvement in the physical function test at 3 months; estimated mean difference (95% confidence interval): 5.5 (2.8-8.1), 6 months 3.6 (0.4-6.8) and 12 months 4.0 (0.0-7.9), compared with the control group. There were no differences in coping between the 2 groups at 3, 6 or 12 months. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation in a warm climate improves physical functioning, but not coping, in young adults with inflammatory arthritis.

Physical and Psychological Factors Affecting Falls in Older Patients with Arthritis.

As the population ages, falls are becoming one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Joint disease (either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis) is a well-known predictor of falls, and these medical conditions increase in accordance with the aging population. This study aimed to describe individual, physical, and psychological characteristics between older adults with and without a fall history. Further, we aimed to identify statistically significant physical or psychological factors associated with falls by controlling individual variables. We analyzed data from the 2014 Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Korean Older Adults. Adults aged 65 years or over with doctor-diagnosed joint disease were eligible. A total of 2707 women and 784 men (n = 3491) were enrolled. Of these, 1174 patients suffered a fall within a year (average number of falls = 2.4). We adopted individual variable-adjusted models and found that limited activities of daily living (odds ratio (OR) 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.87), fear of falling (OR 7.18, 95% CI 4.26-12.09), and depression (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.09-1.50) significantly increased fall risks on logistic regression analysis. Our findings suggest that physical and psychological factors, especially the fear of falling, need to be addressed to prevent falls in elderly patients with arthritis.

Pain as a risk factor for suicidal behavior in older adults: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to examine whether pain is a risk factor for suicidal behavior (suicide ideation, suicide attempts or suicide) in older adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An extensive search was conducted on the following databases: MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus and PsycARTICLES. Search terms used were "pain", "suicid*" and "elderly". Studies that assessed the relation between pain and suicidal behavior among people aged ≥60 years were included. Two reviewers independently screened the abstracts and applied selection criteria in the full-text of all included articles. RESULTS: Results from 38 original research articles were included and reviewed. Moderate/severe pain increased the risk of suicide ideation from OR = 1.13 (95 %CI = 1.02-1.25) to OR = 2.7 (95 %CI = 1.1-7.0). The influence in suicide attempts ranged between OR = 1.92 (95 %CI 1.17-3.15) and 3.63-fold for extreme pain; and one article reported that the risk of a successful suicide was 4.07-fold higher in pain suffering patients. In most studies, this relation was maintained, even after controlling for other risk factors. Arthritis, back/neck problems and headaches were associated with higher risks of suicidal behavior. Pain was also a stronger predictor for suicide in men (OR = 9.9; 95 %CI = 6.0-16.4) than in women (OR = 3.3; 95 %CI = 1.4-7.7). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the existence of a relationship between pain and suicidal behavior in older adults. This information may be extremely relevant to inform suicide prevention strategies.

Self-Regulation Strategies as Predictors: Managing Multimorbidities Among Community-Dwelling People Aging with Arthritis.

Self-regulation (SR) has been defined as consisting of three basic strategies: selection, optimization, and compensation. This study investigates these three SR strategies as predictors of arthritis self-efficacy, quality of life (QOL), and health-care utilization in community-dwelling people aging with arthritis and comorbidities. One hundred forty individuals over age 50 years provided demographic characteristics and completed surveys on comorbidities, health resources, use of SR strategies, symptoms, arthritis self-efficacy, QOL, and health-care utilization. Multivariate hierarchical stepwise regressions were used to examine SR strategies as predictors for arthritis self-efficacy, and together with arthritis self-efficacy as predictors for health-care utilization, and QOL. Physical symptoms; SR strategies, especially optimization; and income adequacy significantly predicted arthritis self-efficacy. Arthritis self-efficacy and mental and physical symptoms significantly predicted QOL. This study adds evidence to support the role of SR strategies, especially optimization, in building arthritis self-efficacy for better self-management and QOL in persons with arthritis and multiple chronic conditions.

Enjoyment of exercise among people with arthritis: An inductive thematic analysis.

Past research into exercise among people with long-term health conditions has paid surprisingly little attention to the concept of enjoyment. This study explored enjoyment of exercise among people with arthritis. Semi-structured interviews were held with 12 participants aged 20-85 years. The transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: enjoyment of exercise in relation to other people, benefits of exercise in relation to enjoyment, working around barriers to enjoy exercise and finding an enjoyable balance to exercise. These themes highlight the relevance of enjoyment and how it could feature in advice about exercise for people with arthritis.

Body image, pain and level of resources among arthritis patients: the moderating role of gender.

Arthritis is a highly debilitating group of chronic diseases that affects both physical and psychosocial functioning. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between body image, subjective pain intensity and level of resources described by Conservation of Resources (COR) theory among arthritis patients. In particular, the moderating role of the participants' gender was explored via multiple linear regression analysis. 200 arthritis patients were recruited, including 141 females and 59 males. Body image was evaluated using the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, subjective pain intensity was measured via the Numerical Rating Scale and level of resources was assessed using the COR evaluation questionnaire. A negative relationship was confirmed between the level of satisfaction with body image and pain intensity among participants. A positive relationship was found between body-image subscales and level of COR resources. These relationships were moderated by the participants' gender, i.e. only among males a positive association between body image and pain and, respectively, body image and resources was found. Enhancing body awareness is an essential part of psychological counselling for patients with arthritis and our study added to the literature by showing how body image may be related to pain and resources in this patient group.

Systematic Review of the Impact of Inflammatory Arthritis on Intimate Relationships and Sexual Function.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review evidence of the impact of inflammatory arthritis on, or association of inflammatory arthritis with, intimate relationships and sexual function. METHODS: Ovid Medline, Ovid PsycINFO, Ovid Embase, and EBSCO CINAHL databases were searched. Two independent reviewers selected articles, extracted data, and conducted manual searches of reference lists from included studies and previous reviews. The quality of evidence was assessed using standard risk-of-bias tools. RESULTS: Fifty-five eligible studies were reviewed. Of these, 49 (89%) were quantitative, 5 (9.1%) were qualitative, and 1 (1.8%) used a mixed-method design. Few quantitative studies were rated as low risk of bias (n = 7 [14%]), many were rated as moderate (n = 37 [74%]) or high risk (n = 6 [12%]). Quantitative study sample sizes ranged from 10 to 1,272 participants, with a reported age range 32-63 years. Qualitative study sample sizes ranged from 8 to 57 participants, with a reported age range 20-69 years. In studies reporting the Female Sexual Function Index, all inflammatory arthritis groups demonstrated mean scores ≤26.55 (range of mean ± SD scores: 14.2 ± 7.8 to 25.7 ± 4.7), indicating sexual dysfunction. In studies reporting the International Index of Erectile Function, all inflammatory arthritis groups reported mean scores ≤25 (range of mean ± SD scores: 16.0 ± 5.3 to 23.8 ± 7.0), indicating erectile dysfunction. Key qualitative themes were impaired sexual function and compromised intimate relationships; prominent subthemes included inflammatory arthritis-related pain and fatigue, erectile dysfunction, diminished sexual desire, and sexual function fluctuations according to disease activity. CONCLUSION: Sexual dysfunction appears highly prevalent among men and women with inflammatory arthritis, and increased clinician awareness of this impairment may guide provision of tailored education and support.

Where Have All the Patients Gone? Profile of US Adults Who Report Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis But Are Not Being Treated.

BACKGROUND: Patients only benefit from clinical management of arthritis if they are under the care of a physician or other health professional. OBJECTIVES: We profiled adults who reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis who are not currently being treated for it to understand better who they are. METHODS: Individuals with no current treatment (NCT) were identified by "no" to "Are you currently being treated by a doctor or other health professional for arthritis or joint symptoms?" Demographics, current symptoms, physical functioning, arthritis limitations and interference in life activities, and level of agreement with treatment and attitude statements were assessed in this cross-sectional, descriptive study of noninstitutionalized US adults aged 45 years or older with self-reported, doctor-diagnosed arthritis (n = 1793). RESULTS: More than half of the study population, 52%, reported NCT (n = 920). Of those with NCT, 27% reported fair/poor health, 40% reported being limited by their arthritis, 51% had daily arthritis pain, 59% reported 2 or more symptomatic joints, and 19% reported the lowest third of physical functioning. Despite NCT, 83% with NCT agreed or strongly agreed with the importance of seeing a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Greater than half of those aged 45 years or older with arthritis were not currently being treated for it, substantial proportions of whom experienced severe symptoms and poor physical function and may benefit from clinical management and guidance, complemented by community-delivered public health interventions (self-management education, physical activity). Further research to understand the reasons for NCT may identify promising intervention points to address missed treatment opportunities and improve quality of life and functioning.