Hand Function Impairments Are More Pronounced in Female RA and PsA Patients and also Found in Patients without Concurrent Hand Inflammation

Coppers B, Heinrich S, Bayat S, Tascilar K, Kleyer A, Simon D, Minopoulou I, Corte G, Fagni F, Schönau V, Leyendecker S, Schett G, Liphardt AM (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Medicine and science in sports and exercise American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

Article Number: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003832

DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003832

Abstract

Purpose Hand function is considered being critical in rheumatoid (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, however, comprehensive assessment of hand function is rarely done in patients with inflammatory arthritis. Methods In this cross-sectional study, RA and PsA patients and healthy controls (HC) were assessed for hand function using isometric grip strength (dynamometer), dynamic grip strength (vigorimeter), and fine-motor skills (Moberg Picking-Up Test). Between-group differences and the associations with disease activity (Disease Activity Score 28, DAS28, RA; Disease Activity in Psoriasis Arthritis, DAPSA, PsA) were analysed using linear mixed-effects models with age as covariate and participants ID as random intercept term. All analyses were stratified by sex and additionally employed for a subgroup without concurrent hand inflammation (no tender and swollen joints, no ultrasound signs of inflammation). Results 225 participants were included (76 PsA, 73 RA and 76 HC). RA and PsA patient showed similar reduction in isometric and dynamic grip strength and fine-motor skills compared to HC. Impairment of hand function was particularly pronounced in female RA and PsA patients, while grip strength was better maintained in males. A one-unit higher DAS28 or DAPSA, was associated with lower dynamic grip strength for all RA and PsA patients, and one-unit higher DAPSA was additionally associated with lower fine-motor skills in female PsA patients. Female RA and PsA patients showed impairment in all measures of hand function even without concurrent hand inflammation, while among males only PsA patients showed fine-motor skill impairment. Conclusions Hand function is impaired to a similar extent in RA and PsA patients, more pronounced in female patients and also found in absence of concurrent hand inflammation.

Authors with CRIS profile

Birte Coppers Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Simon Heinrich Institute of Applied Dynamics Sara Bayat Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Koray Tascilar Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Arnd Kleyer Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology David Simon Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Ioanna Minopoulou Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Filippo Fagni Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Verena Schönau Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Sigrid Leyendecker Institute of Applied Dynamics Georg Schett Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin III Anna-Maria Liphardt Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology

How to cite

APA:

Coppers, B., Heinrich, S., Bayat, S., Tascilar, K., Kleyer, A., Simon, D.,... Liphardt, A.-M. (2025). Hand Function Impairments Are More Pronounced in Female RA and PsA Patients and also Found in Patients without Concurrent Hand Inflammation. Medicine and science in sports and exercise . https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003832

MLA:

Coppers, Birte, et al. "Hand Function Impairments Are More Pronounced in Female RA and PsA Patients and also Found in Patients without Concurrent Hand Inflammation." Medicine and science in sports and exercise (2025).

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