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., Zwierska, I., van Schaardenburg, D., van der Helm-van Mil, A., Raza, K., & 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
• Electronic ISSN: 1462-0332
• 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
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/413355
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kez184
• PMID: 31079150