Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of foot pain and foot care among rheumatoid arthritis patients taking and not taking anti-TNFα therapy: an epidemiological study

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Rheumatology International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Epidemiological studies report foot pain affects more than 90% of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Most data about foot involvement in RA were collected prior to the availability of novel treatments such as biologics. The objective of this study is to compare the prevalence of foot symptoms, frequency of foot examination, and access to foot care services among RA patients currently treated with anti-TNFα to those not receiving biologics. This study is a cross-sectional epidemiological study: a 28-item self-administered questionnaire was posted to 1,040 people with RA throughout the UK. Overall, 585 (55%) useable replies were received, and 120 (20.5%) respondents were currently taking anti-TNFα medication. Prevalence of current foot pain was 99% among the biologics group compared with 76% not treated with biologics. Stiffness, swelling, and numbness in the feet were all significantly more common in the anti-TNFα group (P < 0.05). Most respondents (90%) taking biologics discussed their foot pain with their rheumatologist, but only 70% were receiving podiatry (compared to 78% not taking anti-TNFα). Subjects reported that their feet were examined significantly less frequently (P < 0.001) than their hands. Foot complaints are common in this group, and allied health professions could enhance rheumatological care by undertaking foot assessment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  1. Albers JMC, Paimela L, Kurki P et al (2001) Treatment strategy, disease activity and outcome in four cohorts of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 60:453–458

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Combe B, Landewe R, Lukas C et al (2007) EULAR recommendations for the management of early arthritis: report of a task force of the European Standing Committee for International Clinical Studies Including Therapeutics. Ann Rheum Dis 66:34–45

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Trieb K (2005) Management of the foot in rheumatoid arthritis. J Bone Joint Surg Br 87-B:1171–1177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Otter SJ, Lucas K, Springett K et al (2010) Foot pain in rheumatoid arthritis prevalence and risk factors & management: an epidemiological study. Clin Rheumatol 2:255–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Helliwell P, Woodburn J, Redmond A et al (2007) The foot and ankle in rheumatoid arthritis. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 59–60

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ailinger RL, Schweitzer E (1993) Patients’ explanations of rheumatoid arthritis. West J Nurs Res 15:340–351

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wickman AM, Pinzur MS, Kadnoff R et al (2004) Health-related quality of life for patients with rheumatoid arthritis foot involvement. Foot Ankle Int 25:19–26

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Grondal L, Tengstrand B, Nordmark B et al (2008) The foot: still the most important reason for walking incapacity in rheumatoid arthritis: distribution of symptomatic joints in 1,000 RA patients. Acta Orthop 79:257–261

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Davys HJ, Woodburn J, Bingham SJ, Emery P (2006) Onychocryptosis (Ingrowing toenail) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on biologic therapy. Rheumatology 45(Supp 1):i171

    Google Scholar 

  10. Matricali GA, Boonen A, Verduyckt J et al (2006) The presence of forefoot problems and the role of surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 65:1254–1255

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Lohkamp M, Burrow G, McCarron T et al (2006) The prevalence and anatomical location of foot pain in early diagnosed patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Podiatr 9:115–119

    Google Scholar 

  12. Bann CM, Fehnel SE, Gagnon DD (2003) Development and validation of the Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scale-short form (DFS-SF). Pharmacoeconomics 21:1277–1290

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Garrow AP, Papageorgiou AC, Silman AJ et al (2000) Development and validation of a questionnaire to assess disabling foot pain. Pain 85:107–113

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (TA130) (2007). Available from www.nice.org.uk. Accessed 1.5.2010

  15. Prevoo ML, van t’Hof MA, Kuper HH et al (1995) Modified disease activity scores that indicate twenty-eight-joint counts Development and validation in a prospective longitudinal study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 38:44–48

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Leeb BF, Andel I, Leder S et al (2005) The patient’s perspective and rheumatoid arthritis disease activity indexes. Rheumatology (Oxford) 44:360–365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Redmond AC, Waxman R, Helliwell PS (2005) Provision of foot health services in rheumatology in the UK. Rheumatology (Oxford) 45:571–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Firth J, Hale C, Helliwell P et al (2008) The prevalence of foot ulceration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Care Res 59:200–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Otter SJ, Robinson CJ, Berry H (2005) Rheumatoid arthritis, foot infection & tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibition—a case history. The Foot 15:117–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society for their support, those who took time to complete a questionnaire, and the research assistants for their help with running the project.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health Professions, University of Brighton, Robert Dodd Building, 49 Darley Rd, Eastbourne, BN20 7UR, UK

    S. J. Otter, K. Lucas & A. Moore

  2. Department of Allied Health Professions, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK

    K. Springett

  3. Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK

    K. Davies & K. Walker-Bone

  4. Rheumatology Department, North West Herts NHS Trust, Hertfordshire, UK

    A. Young

Authors
  1. S. J. Otter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Lucas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Springett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Moore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. K. Davies
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. Young
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. K. Walker-Bone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. J. Otter.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Otter, S.J., Lucas, K., Springett, K. et al. Comparison of foot pain and foot care among rheumatoid arthritis patients taking and not taking anti-TNFα therapy: an epidemiological study. Rheumatol Int 31, 1515–1519 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-010-1700-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-010-1700-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation