Symptoms associated with inflammatory arthritis are common in the primary care population: results from the Joint Symptoms Survey

Hider, Samantha L; Muller, Sara; Helliwell, Toby; Prior, James A; Scott, Ian; Lawton, Sarah A; Zwierska, Irena; van Schaardenburg, Dirkjan; van der Helm-van Mil, Annette; Raza, Karim; Mallen, Christian D

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of self-reported inflammatory joint symptoms, such as joint pain, stiffness and swelling in UK primary care patients consulting for both musculoskeletal (MSK) and non-musculoskeletal (non-MSK) complaints.

Methods: A Joint Symptoms questionnaire survey was sent to 10,161 individuals, of whom 5,050 had consulted for MSK problems. These were matched by age, gender and general practice to non-MSK consulters. Participants provided data on relevant symptoms such as joint pain, stiffness and swelling. The prevalence of these symptoms, their severity and impact was compared between MSK and non-MSK consulters.

Results: 4,549 adults responded to the survey (adjusted response 45.8%) of whom 52.3% consulted for a musculoskeletal problem. The mean (SD) age was 61.6 (14.8) years and 58.9% were female. Persistent (on at least half of the days in the last month) inflammatory symptoms were common even in non-MSK consulters, with 42% reporting joint pain, 36% reporting joint stiffness and 18% reporting joint swelling. This is in comparison to 62% reporting joint pain, 50% stiffness and 24% swelling amongst MSK consulters.

Conclusions: Although symptoms such as persistent joint pain, swelling, and stiffness are predictive of inflammatory arthritis, large numbers of people consulting primary care for non-musculoskeletal reasons report these symptoms when asked by questionnaire. This compounds the challenges of diagnosing inflammatory arthritis in a non-specialist setting where new approaches are needed to ensure accurate, early diagnosis, facilitating a treat-to-target approach.

Citation

Hider, S. L., Muller, S., Helliwell, T., Prior, J. A., Scott, I., Lawton, S. A., …Mallen, C. D. (2019). Symptoms associated with inflammatory arthritis are common in the primary care population: results from the Joint Symptoms Survey. Rheumatology, 58(11), 2009-2014. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kez184

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 8, 2019
• Online Publication Date: May 11, 2019
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: May 26, 2023
• Journal: Rheumatology
• Print ISSN: 1462-0324
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 58
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 2009-2014
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kez184
• Keywords: inflammatory arthritis, joint pain, joint swelling, primary care
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kez184
• PMID: 31079150