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Background:Upper extremity functions affect the quality of life at different levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the current literature; it has been shown that grip endurance is associated with upper limb functions (1). However, there is no study investigating the relationship between grip endurance and quality of life in patients with RA.Objectives:To investigate relationship between grip endurance, disability of upper extremity and quality of life in patients with RA.Methods:In our cross sectional study, 23 RA patients [Mean age; 52.7±12.6, BMI;26.9±5.7 kg/m2, Women;20(87.0%)] who were classified according to the ACR 2010 criteria. Demographics and clinical characteristics of patients were recorded (Table 1). Das28 for disease activity score, Static and dynamic grip endurance measurements using Hand Dynamometer (Lafayette Proffessional Hand Dynamometer, USA) for grip endurance, Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Survey (DASH) for disabilities and symptoms of upper extremity and Short Form-36 Health Survey for quality of life were performed. Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient was used for data analysis.Table 1.Demografic and Clinical Characteristics of PatientsVariables (n=23)Median(IQR 25/75)Age (year)56(41/62)BMI (kg/m2)27,5(21.4/32.0)Disease Duration(year)8(5/15)Morning Stiffness (VAS/mm)38(23/48)Perceived Disability of Hand (VAS,mm)47(25/67)Clinician Disability of Hand (VAS,mm)30(20/39)Number Of Tender Hand Joint2(0/6)Number Of Swollen Hand Joint0(0/1)CRP(mg l)3,3(1.8/7.1)ESR(nm/h)13(6/21)n(%)Morning Stiffness Duratton0-15 minutes8 (34.8)15-30 minutes5 (21.7)30-60 minutes3 (13.0)Longer than 1 hours7 (30.4)Das28Remission11(47.8)Low Activity2(8.7)Moderate Activity7(30.4)High Activity3(13.0)Data is presented median (interquantile range) or percentile (%).Results:Grip endurance was negatively correlated with DASH and positively correlated with many different quality of life parameters, especially physical function, on both the dominant and non-dominant sides (p <0.05). DASH was correlated negatively with SF-36 physical function, rol limitataion due to physical health, pain subparameters and positively correlated with Das28 score (p<0.05).Conclusion:In our study, it was concluded that grip endurance was related to upper extremity functions and quality of life in patients with RA. This result shows that; assessment of grip endurance can be a guide for clinicians who have designed an upper limb rehabilitation program for patients with RA.References:1. VERMA, Chhaya, et al. Correlation of functional ability of the hand with upper limb function and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.J Assoc Physicians India, 2017, 65: 20-4.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Background:Hand articular damage occurs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and functional ability deteriorates as the disease progresses. Limitation of hand motion, oedema, pain etc. factors contribute to reduce grip strength, pinch strength and joint position sense; this problems contribute to function and disability. Following RA, affecting grip and pinch strength (1) and joint position sense (2) was reported former research. But there is a little knowledge about disabilitiy of hand functions in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Objectives:To compare joint position sense, grip strength and pinch strength in patient with PsA and RA.Methods:In our cross sectional study, 23 RA patients [Mean age; 52.7±12.6, Women:20(87.0%)] who were classified according to the ACR 2010 criteria and 19 PsA patients [Mean age 53.5±12.6, Women:14 (%73.7)] who were classified according to the CASPAR criteria were included.It was recorded demographic and clinical data of patients. Wrist position sense was evaluated by goniometric re-position error test (in 30◦ wrist extansion, 3 repeat). Grip strenght was examined using a hand dynamometer (Lafayette Proffessional Hand Dynamometer, USA) and pinch strength (two point, three point, lateral) was evaluated by pinchmeter (Lafayette,USA).Results:Patients were similar in terms of age, gender, disease duration, morning stiffness duration, pain of hand joints, number of tender and swallen joints and disease activity (p>0.05). RA patients had longer disease duration (p=0.004) and lower ESR levels (p=0.046) compared to PsA. Grip and pinch strength were found similar in both dominant and non-dominant side between RA and PsA patients (Table 1). Wrist joint position error was higher in PsA group in non-dominant side (p=0.011).Table 1.Comparison of Groups for Grip and Pinch Strength and Joint Position SenseVariablesRA(n=23)Median(IQR)PsA(n=19)Median(IQR)p*Grip StrengthDominantNon-dominant20(14/25)20(14/25)25(20/29)21(15/26)0.1090.404Pinch StrengthDominant2 Point3 PointLateralNondominant2 Point3 PointLateral3.1(2.2/3.8)3(2.3/4.0)3.4(3.0/4.2)3(1.9/3.7)2.8(2.3/3.8)2.9(2.5/4.0)3(2.2/3.4)3.4(2.5/4.20)3.5(2.6/4.5)3(2.4/3.7)3.1(2.3/4.2)3.2(2.4/4.2)0.8100.4710.8400.7140.7230.561Joint Position ErrorDominantNon-dominant6(5/7)6(3/8)7(5/9)8(6/11)0.2340.011Data have shown as median (interquartile range 25-75) *Mann Whitney-U TestConclusion:Our study showed that patients with PsA had hand impairment as much as RA patients. We think, hand assessment in patients with PsA rehabilitation programme is essential for clinicians. There is need future studies including asymptomatic healthy group to interpret of results in detailed.References:[1]VLIET, TP Vlieland, et al. Determinants of hand function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The Journal of rheumatology, 1996, 23.5: 835-840.[2]FERRELL, W. R.; CRIGHTON, A.; STURROCK, R. D. Position sense at the proximal interphalangeal joint is distorted in patients with rheumatoid arthritis of finger joints. Experimental Physiology: Translation and Integration, 1992, 77.5: 675-680.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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BackgroundDynamic grip endurance in psoriatic arthritis is one of the affected functional parameters during the disease process. However, there are limited studies about dynamic grip endurance related factors.ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between disease activity level and joint position sense and dynamic grip endurance in psoriatic arthritis.MethodsA total of 27 PsA patients (age:53.33 ±11.85 years, women/men:16/5) who were classified by the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) criteria and followed in outpatient clinic were included in our study. The socio-demographic characteristic of all patients recorded. Disease activity level was assessed with the DAPSA score. Wrist joint position sense was evaluated by a goniometric re-position error test. Grip strength and endurance were examined by a hand dynamometer (Lafayette Professional Hand Dynamometer, USA). Data analysis was performed with Spearman Correlation Coefficient.ResultsPatients’ diagnosis year, tender joint on hand, and swollen joint on hand were 4.50 years, 23, and 18, respectively. DAPSA scores were 28.67 ±14.85 and moderate-high level. There was no relationship between DAPSA scores and joint position error and dynamic grip endurance on both sides (p>0.05). A moderate level correlation was found between the DAPSA score and grip strength on both sides (p<0.05, r=-0.516 and -0.570 dominant and non-dominant side, respectively).ConclusionOur study showed that PsA patients had lower grip strength during the exacerbation period. Since joint position sense and grip endurance were low independents of disease activity, they may not are associated with disease activity in this study. We think that in cases where disease activity increases, approaches that protect grip strength can be added to the disease management process.REFERENCES:NIL.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of InterestsNone Declared.