Structural and Functional Changes of Hands and Legs in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess if there are structural and functional changes of hands and legs already in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA), compared with the population-based control group. Additionally, we aimed to identify if the changes are symmetrical in hands and legs and if there are factors that are associated with these changes. The study was conducted, and, thus far, the results have been controversial. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 83 consecutive patients with ERA and 321 control subjects. Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) machine was used to measure bone, lean and fat mass. Inflammation and bone markers, smoking and nutritional habits were assessed, to evaluate the effects of different factors. The 30-Second Chair Stand Test (30-CST) and the Handgrip Strength Test (HST) were used to estimate muscle strength. Results: The presence of ERA was associated with lower arm, leg lean mass and higher fat mass of arm, compared with control subjects. ERA was also associated with lower mean handgrip in HST and worse muscle strength of legs in the 30-CST. Bone mass changes were not so evident both in arms and legs. Smoking habits did not seem to have relevant effect on bone mass, muscle structural and functional changes, both on hands and legs. In ERA, lean mass of arm and leg was negatively associated with C-reactive protein (CRP). The intake of proteins in ERA was not associated with lean mass changes both in hands and legs. Conclusions: Structural and functional changes of hands and legs are different in ERA. ERA patients had higher fat mass of arm, lower lean mass of arm and leg and, accordingly, decreased muscle function. The lowering of lean mass of arm and leg in ERA was associated with the elevation of CRP.

Factors Associated With Low Lean Mass in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross- Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate body composition (BC) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients at disease onset compared to population controls focusing on the associations between low lean mass and disease specific parameters, nutritional factors and physical activity. Materials and Methods: 91 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) (72% female) and 328 control subjects (54% female) were studied. BC- lean and fat mass parameters were measured with a Lunar Prodigy Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) machine. The prevalence, age and gender adjusted odds ratios of having low lean mass and overfat, associations between nutrition, physical activity, and ERA disease specific parameters and the presence of low lean mass were evaluated. Results: We found that the BC of patients with recent onset RA differs from control subjects-ERA patients had a higher mean body fat percentage (BFP) and lower appendicular lean mass (ALM). 41.8% of the ERA patients and 19.8% of the controls were classified as having low lean mass adjusted OR 3.3 (95% C.I. 1.9-5.5, p < 0.001). 68.1% of the ERA subjects and 47.3% of the controls were overfat (adjusted OR 1.9 (95% C.I. 1.1-3.3, p = 0.02)) and the adjusted odds of having both low lean mass and overfat were 4.4 times higher (26.4% vs. 7.0% 95% C.I. 2.3-8.4, p < 0.001) among the ERA group. Higher ESR (OR 1.03, C.I.1.002-1.051, p = 0.03), CRP (OR 1.03, C.I. 1.002-1.061, p = 0.04), lower protein intake (OR 0.98 C.I. 0.96-0.99, p = 0.04), corticosteroid usage (OR 3.71 C.I. 1.4-9.9, p < 0.01) and lower quality of life (higher HAQ score OR 2.41 C.I. 1.24-4.65, p < 0.01) were associated with having low lean mass in the ERA group (adjusted to age and gender). Conclusions: Patients with early RA have lower appendicular lean mass and higher body fat percentage compared to healthy controls. Loss of lean mass in early RA is associated with elevated inflammatory markers inducing catabolism, lower protein intake and also with GCS treatment.

Quality of life after hip, vertebral, and distal forearm fragility fractures measured using the EQ-5D-3L, EQ-VAS, and time-trade-off: results from the ICUROS.

INTRODUCTION: The International Costs and Utilities Related to Osteoporotic fractures Study is a multinational observational study set up to describe the costs and quality of life (QoL) consequences of fragility fracture. This paper aims to estimate and compare QoL after hip, vertebral, and distal forearm fracture using time-trade-off (TTO), the EuroQol (EQ) Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), and the EQ-5D-3L valued using the hypothetical UK value set. METHODS: Data were collected at four time-points for five QoL point estimates: within 2 weeks after fracture (including pre-fracture recall), and at 4, 12, and 18 months after fracture. Health state utility values (HSUVs) were derived for each fracture type and time-point using the three approaches (TTO, EQ-VAS, EQ-5D-3L). HSUV were used to estimate accumulated QoL loss and QoL multipliers. RESULTS: In total, 1410 patients (505 with hip, 316 with vertebral, and 589 with distal forearm fracture) were eligible for analysis. Across all time-points for the three fracture types, TTO provided the highest HSUVs, whereas EQ-5D-3L consistently provided the lowest HSUVs directly after fracture. Except for 13-18 months after distal forearm fracture, EQ-5D-3L generated lower QoL multipliers than the other two methods, whereas no equally clear pattern was observed between EQ-VAS and TTO. On average, the most marked differences between the three approaches were observed immediately after the fracture. CONCLUSIONS: The approach to derive QoL markedly influences the estimated QoL impact of fracture. Therefore the choice of approach may be important for the outcome and interpretation of cost-effectiveness analysis of fracture prevention.

The metabolic profile in early rheumatoid arthritis: a high prevalence of metabolic obesity.

The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in early RA patients with age-gender-matched population controls focusing on the presence of MetS in different weight categories. The study group consisted of 91 consecutive patients with early RA and 273 age- and gender-matched controls subjects. MetS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. Mean age in both groups was 52 years, and 72.5 % were female. The prevalence of MetS did not differ between the two groups (35.2 % in RA, 34.1 % in control group). Mean systolic blood pressure in the RA group was 137 mmHg, in control group 131 mmHg, P = 0.01, and diastolic blood pressure 85 versus 81 mmHg, respectively (P < 0.01). We found that 20 of 65 (30.8 %) of RA patients compared to 80 of 152 (52.6 %) of the control subjects with elevated blood pressure received antihypertensive treatment (P < 0.01). When comparing subgroups with normal BMI, the odds of having MetS (being metabolically obese) were higher among early RA subjects (OR 5.6, CI 1.3-23.8). Of the individual components of metabolic syndrome, we found increased prevalence of hypertension (OR 2.8, CI 1.3-6.0) and hyperglycemia (OR 2.9, CI 1.0-8.0) in the RA group. Recognition of abnormal metabolic status among normal-weight RA patients who have not yet developed CVD could provide a valuable opportunity for preventative intervention.

The impact of hip fracture on mortality in Estonia: a retrospective population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Estimates of hip fracture mortality in Eastern Europe are scarce. We aimed to estimate the magnitude and duration of excess mortality after hip fracture in Estonia. METHODS: Retrospective, population-based 10-year study of persons aged ≥50 in two cohorts: with hip fracture and an age- and sex-matched (in a 1:4 ratio) random sample from the national health insurance fund database for comparison. Cumulative risks, excess risks and relative risks of death were estimated using Poisson regression with 95% bootstrap confidence intervals (CI). Risks were adjusted for age and Charlson comorbidity index. RESULTS: We identified 8298 (2383 men, 5915 women) incident hip fracture patients from 2005 to 2013 and 33,191 (9531 men, 23,660 women) individuals for the reference group. 5552 (1564 men, 3988 women) cases and 14,037 (3514 men, 10,523 women) reference individuals died during the 10-year follow-up period. Among hip fracture patients we observed a pronounced and durable excess risk of death that was highest within 3-6 months after fracture and persisted for the full 10-year follow-up period. After adjustment for age and Charlson index, hip fracture was associated with a 21.1% (95% CI 20.0-22.5%) 10-year cumulative excess risk of death (RR 1.37, 95% CI 1.35-1.40). We found a high immediate excess risk of death in older age groups (≥80 years) and gradually accumulating excess risk in younger age groups (50-79 years). The excess risk was more pronounced among men than women. CONCLUSIONS: By the end of the 10-year follow-up, 1 in 4 deaths in the hip fracture group was attributable to the hip fracture. The results indicate a high attributable impact of hip fracture as an independent risk factor for death.

Adverse lifestyle and health-related quality of life: gender differences in patients with and without chronic conditions.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to investigate the relationship between the main lifestyle-related factors and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a sample of patients with and without chronic conditions (CCs) with respect to the gender differences in both groups. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1061 patients (of which 308 had no CCs and 753 of those had one or more CCs) recruited at primary health care centres and the Internal Medicine Clinic at Tartu University Hospital in Estonia. Data were collected during 2012-2014. The patient's age, self-reported smoking status, alcohol consumption (assessed by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and body mass index were used as independent variables to predict the physical component scores (PCS) and mental component scores (MCS) of HRQoL (assessed by SF-36). RESULTS: Smoking had a negative association with both physical and mental components of HRQoL only in women with CCs. Further, the PCS of chronically ill women was negatively associated with the higher body mass index. Harmful drinking had a negative association with the HRQoL in all patient groups, except with the PCS in women with CC. Light alcohol consumption without symptoms of harmful use or dependency had a positive association with the physical and mental HRQoL in all patient groups, except with the MCS in women without CCs. CONCLUSION: Adverse lifestyle had the most expressed association with HRQoL in women with CCs. Light alcohol consumption had a positive association, but harmful use of alcohol had an inverse association with HRQoL irrespective of patients' gender or health status.

Level of knowledge and sources of information about the rheumatoid arthritis in Estonian patients.

The objective of this paper was to find out how many patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) know about several aspects of disease, to explain the associations between the level of self-rated knowledge and patients' background and health status and to compare the importance of the main sources of information. A random sample (n = 1,259) of adult Estonian RA patients was selected from the Estonian Health Insurance Fund Database. The patients completed a self-administered questionnaire, which included information about their socio-demographic and disease characteristics, use of health services, information about the disease, and sources of information. Regression analysis was used to calculate the associations between the independent variables and level of self-rated knowledge about several aspects of RA. The results of the study indicated that the self-reported ratings of knowledge about the disease in Estonian RA patients were rather low. Health professionals were mentioned as the primary sources of information, but the longer disease history and more frequent use of health services as considerable predictors of higher ratings of knowledge refer to role of personal experience in obtaining knowledge about the disease as well.

Does Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake Associate With Bone Mineral Density and Limb Structural Changes in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that can result in bone erosion, lean mass lowering, and increase of fat mass without changes in body weight. The dietary consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been assessed in many studies due to their potential anti-inflammatory effect. Aim: The aim of this research was to identify if dietary intake of PUFAs associates with bone mineral density (BMD) and limb structural changes in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) compared to a population-based control group. The study was conducted because previous results have been insufficient. Methods: The study group consisted of 83 ERA patients and 321 control subjects. A dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry (DXA) machine was used to measure hip, lumbar spine, and radius BMD, as well as arm and leg fat, lean, and bone mass. Dietary habits and inflammatory markers were assessed to evaluate the effects to BMD and limb structural changes. Results: In ERA subjects, higher dietary consumption of PUFAs was associated with a decrease in arm fat mass (b -28.17, P = .02) and possibly with higher lumbar BMD (b 0.008, P = .058). Limb bone and lean mass changes were not associated with dietary intake of PUFAs. Conclusion: Balanced nutrition is essential. Consuming PUFAs could be beneficial in ERA preventing structural changes to hands, but additional research is needed.

Factors associated with hand bone changes in early rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this research was to assess if hand bone mineral density (HBMD) changes associated with the appearance of erosions in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA), compared with the population-based control group. Additionally, we tried to identify if there are novel factors that associate with HBMD and erosive changes (EC), and if they are dissimilar. The study was conducted as the data are limited. METHODS: The study group consisted of 83 ERA patients and 321 controls. Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) machine was used to measure HBMD. EC of RA (rheumatoid arthritis) were assessed in X-rays of hands using Sharp scores. Life-style habits, inflammation markers were assessed to evaluate the effects of different factors. RESULTS: The presence of ERA was associated with lower HBMD compared with controls (adjusted for age, gender, height and weight; b -0.01, p = 0.045). 76% (95% CI 65.3-84.6) of ERA patients had EC in hand X-ray. Smoking habits and higher BMI (body mass index) were associated with an increased likelihood of having RA specific EC. In ERA, decreasing of HBMD was associated with the elevation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity. CONCLUSIONS: In ERA, HBMD changes were not associated with the appearance of erosions. Factors that associate in ERA with HBMD changes and appearance of erosions differ. HBMD assessment together with serum IL-6 level could be useful in everyday clinical practice for better surveillance of ERA patients who do not have EC in hand X-rays.

Use of general practice and rheumatology outpatient services in rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should be treated in close cooperation between GPs and rheumatologists and following treatment guidelines. In this study, we analyse the utilization of health care among patients with RA and explain the determinants of the frequency of use of GP and rheumatologist services. METHODS: A random sample (n = 1259) of adult Estonian patients with RA was investigated in 2007. A pre-structured questionnaire included questions regarding respondents' socio-economic status, quality of life, self-reported use of health care, time, distance and financial aspects of access to health care. The impact of the variables on the frequency of use of health care was analysed with regression analysis. RESULTS: Use of GP services was higher among people who lived outside the capital, had more health problems and experienced disability due to their RA. Time and distance limits had an effect on the frequency of use of both primary and specialist care. A shorter waiting time to the GP and a longer waiting time to the rheumatologist were associated with more frequent use of GP services, but a shorter waiting time to the rheumatologist was related to more frequent visits to the rheumatologist. Patient's costs were not associated with the frequency of health care use. CONCLUSIONS: Use of health care among people with RA depends primarily upon doctors' waiting times, patients' place of residence and their health status. The GP has a significant role in the management of RA patients, especially for those who have multiple health problems and those living in rural areas.

Impact of a new sarco-osteopenia definition on health-related quality of life in a population-based cohort in Northern Europe.

Sarcopenia has been shown to be a marker of falling; therefore, combining osteopenia and sarcopenia could identify a frailer, higher-fracture-risk population. We aimed to define sarco-osteopenia (SOP) in a population-based healthy young sample using both muscle functional and quantitative parameters and assessing the impact of this definition on health-related quality of life. A population sample of 304 patients aged 25-70 yr was analyzed with a Lunar DPX-IQ dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry machine (GE Healthcare, Pollards Wood, UK), and their health-related quality of life was assessed with the Short-Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. SOP was defined as bone mineral density (BMD) -1 standard deviation (SD) and height-adjusted appendicular muscle mass -2 SD and/or grip strength -2 SD less than the mean values of 77 young individuals in the population sample (age: 25-39 yr). Our proposed SOP definition identifies 3-9% of the population older than 40 yr as sarco-osteopenic. These individuals also show markedly lower scores in the role-physical (p=0.01), vitality (p=0.03), and role-emotional (p=0.02) subscales of the SF-36 questionnaire. No difference in the quality of life was observed between osteopenic individuals and those with normal BMD. The new definition identifies a population with significant decrements in health-related quality of life.

Compliance with treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive, debilitating disease that demands continuous therapy with multiple medications. Noncompliance with disease-modifying drugs may cause disease flares, preventable functional impairment, unnecessary treatment changes, and loss of health care resources. The aim of the current study was to explore self-reported compliance with treatment and the factors contributing to this compliance using a representative sample of an RA patient population in Estonia. Two thousand patients diagnosed with RA were randomly selected from the Estonian Health Insurance Fund database. The eligible response rate of the study was 60%. Using prestructured questionnaires, the following information about the disease and treatment was evaluated: self-reported compliance with treatment, reasons for noncompliance, disease history, sociodemographic variables, health care utilization, and satisfaction with health care providers. The self-reported compliance rate was 80.3%, reflecting the percentage of patients who reported that they always took their medications exactly as described. The most often reported reasons for noncompliance were side effects and fear of side effects. Compliance was found to be the lowest in a group of younger and active patients with higher income. Higher frequency of visits to the rheumatologist, satisfaction with health care providers, and sufficient information about RA treatment correlated with better compliance.

Satisfaction with access to health services: the perspective of Estonian patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

In this cross-sectional study we explained the possible determinants of satisfaction with access to health services in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Of the 2000 randomly selected Estonian adult patients with RA, a total 1259 completed the survey. Regression analysis was used to analyse the predictors of patients' satisfaction with access to health services. Half of the respondents were satisfied with their access to health services. Factors that had a negative impact on satisfaction included pain intensity, longer waiting times to see the doctors, as well as low satisfaction with the doctors. Transportation costs to visit a rheumatologist and higher rehabilitation expenses also affected the degree of satisfaction. Patients who could choose the date and time at which they could visit the rheumatologist or who could visit their "own" doctor were more likely to be satisfied than patients whose appointment times were appointed by a healthcare provider.

Impact of molecularly defined hypolactasia, self-perceived milk intolerance and milk consumption on bone mineral density in a population sample in Northern Europe.

OBJECTIVE: Milk intake as a source of calcium is considered an important factor for bone mineral metabolism. Low lactase activity in adult-type hypolactasia (HL) and self-perceived lactose intolerance (LI) are the main limiting factors of milk intake. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of HL, LI, individual milk consumption and bone mineral density in a population with high milk consumption and a prevalent vitamin D deficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A population-based study of 367 men and women aged 25-70 years was conducted in Estonia. HL was diagnosed by direct sequencing of the LCT gene, bone mineral density and body composition measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). An original health questionnaire was used to collect data on milk and dairy consumption, self-perceived milk intolerance, supplement usage and fracture history. RESULTS: Lactase genotype and phenotype had no effect on bone mineral density in this high milk consumption population with a prevalent vitamin D insufficiency. Milk consumption was a significant determinant of bone mineral density in Estonia. Self-perceived milk intolerance leads to self-imposed reductions in milk consumption, increases in bone turnover and an increased risk of fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Self-perceived milk-intolerance rather than HL influences milk consumption and has deleterious effects on bone metabolism.

Bone mineral density reference range in Estonia: a comparison with the standard database (NHANES III).

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is accepted as a standard for diagnosing osteoporosis. Several databases are available for T-score calculation worldwide. Our aim was to compare hip bone mineral density (BMD) in young Estonian adults with the mean BMD in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) femur database and to compare the performance of these 2 databases. A population sample of 304 subjects was analyzed with a Lunar DPX-IQ DXA machine (GE Lunar Co., Madison, WI). Seventy-seven healthy young individuals were selected based on their age (25-39 yr). Their femur neck, trochanter, and total hip mean standardized BMD was compared with the corresponding data from the NHANES III database. Diagnostic agreement was assessed in a population sample of adults and in a clinical convenience sample from the densitometry unit. The BMD in the proximal femur in healthy young Estonian adults did not differ from the mean BMD in the NHANES subjects (p > 0.05). Differences in diagnosing osteoporosis and osteopenia are present if the Estonian reference database is used instead of the US standard database. Prospective studies with fracture data for assessing the predictive capability of these reference databases and the additional benefit of adding the FRAX (World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases, University of Sheffield, UK) tool to fracture prediction and osteoporosis diagnosis are needed in Estonia.

Seasonal variance of 25-(OH) vitamin D in the general population of Estonia, a Northern European country.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has a wide variety of physiological functions in the human body. There is increasing evidence that low serum levels of this vitamin have an important role in the pathogenesis of different skeletal and extra-skeletal diseases. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is common at northern latitudes. There are few population-based studies in the northern European region looking at the issue in a wider age group. We aimed to measure Vitamin D level in the general population of Estonia (latitude 59 degrees N), a North-European country where dairy products are not fortified with vitamin D. METHODS: The study subjects were a population-based random selection of 367 individuals (200 women and 167 men, mean age 48.9 +/- 12.2 years, range 25-70 years) from the registers of general health care providers. 25-(OH) vitamin D (25(OH)D) level and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured in summer and in winter. Additionally age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and self-reported sunbathing habits were recorded. RESULTS: The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration in winter was 43.7 +/- 15 nmol/L and in summer 59.3 +/- 18 nmol/L (p < 0.0001). In winter 73% of the subjects had 25(OH)D insufficiency (25(OH)D concentration below 50 nmol/L) and 8% had deficiency (25(OH)D below 25 nmol/L). The corresponding percentages in summer were 29% for insufficiency and less than 1% for deficiency. PTH reached a plateau at around 80 nmol/L. BMI and age were inversely associated with 25(OH)D, but lost significance when adjusted for sunbathing habits. A difference in the seasonal 25(OH)D amplitude between genders (p = 0.01) was revealed. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent throughout the year in a population without vitamin D dairy fortification living at the latitude of 59 degrees N.

Insulin Resistance in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Associated with Low Appendicular Lean Mass.

In established rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the presence of insulin resistance (IR) is well proven but, in the early stage of the disease, data are inconclusive. We evaluated the presence of IR and associations with body composition (BC) parameters among early RA (ERA) and control subjects. The study group consisted of 92 ERA and 321 control subjects. Using homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), the cut-off value for IR was 2.15. 56% of the ERA patients and 25% of the controls had IR. Of the BC parameters, patients with early RA had less fat-free mass and appendicular lean mass (ALM). In multivariable model, ERA group (b-Coefficient) (4.8, CI: 2.6-8.8), male gender (7.7, CI: 2.7-22.1), and fat mass index (1.2, CI: 1.1-1.4) were associated with IR. Insulin-resistant ERA patients had higher inflammatory markers and higher disease activity. In the multivariable model in the ERA group, IR was associated with male gender (b-Coefficient) (7.4, CI: 153-34.9), high disease activity (6.2, CI: 1.7-22.2), and lower ALM (0.03, CI: 0.001-0.97). IR develops in the early stage of RA in the majority of patients. IR is more common among males and is associated with RA disease activity and lower ALM.

The impact of comorbidities on hip fracture mortality: a retrospective population-based cohort study.

The impact of comorbidities on hip fracture-related excess mortality was assessed in a population-based age- and sex-matched cohort over 10 years. On average, only 1 out of 12 excess deaths over 10 years was related to pre-fracture life-threatening comorbidities. The presence of life-threatening comorbidities increased the excess risk of death after hip fracture. PURPOSE: This work aimed to estimate the impact of pre-fracture comorbidities on the 10-year excess risk of all-cause death after hip fracture among Estonian men and women ≥ 50 years of age. METHODS: Retrospective, population-based 10-year study of people aged ≥ 50 in two cohorts: those with a hip fracture and an age- and sex-matched random sample from the national health insurance fund for comparison. RESULTS: We found that hip fracture was a strong independent risk factor for death. Upon adjustment for Charlson Comorbidities Index (CCI) score, the impact of life-threatening comorbidities on average hip fracture-related excess mortality was modest: only 8% of excess deaths over 10 years were related to comorbidities. Upon stratification by CCI groups, the excess risk of patients in CCI groups ≥ 3 and 1-2 exceeded that in the CCI 0 group over 5-7 years, indicating that in patients with life-threatening comorbidities, a hip fracture accelerates the chain of lethal events and brings deaths from other conditions forward. The impact of comorbidities was age- and time-dependent: in younger hip fracture patients, the comorbidities almost doubled the excess risk from a fracture in 10 years; in older patients, the effect was shorter and modest. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of pre-fracture comorbidities increases the risk of excess death in hip fracture patients, but the comorbidity impact on aggregated excess mortality is modest.

Assistive devices, home adjustments and external help in rheumatoid arthritis.

PURPOSE: To explain the determinants of adaptation with disease and self-management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Estonia, focusing on the use of assistive devices, home adjustments and the need for external help. METHOD: A random sample (n = 1259) of adult Estonian RA patients was selected from the Estonian Health Insurance Fund Database. The patients completed a self-administered questionnaire, which included information about their socio-demographic and disease characteristics, the costs of care, quality of life, use of assistive devices, home adjustments and the need for external help. Regression analysis was used to analyse the predictors of patient's adaptation with disease and self-management. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of the respondents used assistive devices, 20% had made home adjustments and 37% needed external help. Disabilities and physical impairments predicted the use of assistive devices, home adjustments and the need for external help. The use of medical rehabilitation services predicted the less frequent use of assistive devices, while female gender and single status predicted a more expressed need for external help. CONCLUSIONS: Disability and physical impairment are the most important determinants of the use of various technical aids and home adjustments. These factors, along with the female gender and single status of the patient, predict help-dependence.