Factors Affecting Hand Dysfunction in Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Correlation With Quality of Life

Factors Affecting Hand Dysfunction in Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Correlation With Quality of Life

The aims of the research are:

• To predict factors affecting hand dysfunction in patient with rheumatoid arthritis
• To study the effect of hand dysfunction on quality of life in patient with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic autoimmune systemic inflammatory arthritis, associated with considerable impairments of Quality of life .

Hand is the principle means by which an individual interacts with people and objects in the external environment .Many factors affect hand function in addition to arthritis ,. Many RA patients suffer from an increased loss of muscle mass with a significant impact on these patients' quality of life , and also Distal sensory, mixed sensorimotor, mononeuritis multiplex and entrapment neuropathy are the most commonly reported types of neuropathy in RA .So assessment of factors causing hand dysfunction can provide us a quick and early insight on the debilitating effects of RA on functioning and disability.Thus Early intervention can then be initiated which will help limit joint damage and thereby improve functional outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult Patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) (2010) criteria for RA, attending the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic and in-patient department, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University Hospitals.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with other rheumatic diseases.
• Patients less than 18 years old.
• Patients with co-morbidities influencing disease activity and hand function (e.g., end- stage liver or renal disease, serious infections, or severe cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal disease) .
• Patient with any recent history of hand trauma, or surgery.
• Patient with neurological involvement as , peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy