Development of a new patient-reported outcome measure to assess activities and participation in people with systemic sclerosis: the Cochin 17-item Scleroderma Functional scale

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) aimed at assessing people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have rarely involved the target population in the item- and domain-generation stage of the instrument construction.

OBJECTIVES

To develop a new PROM assessing activities and participation in people with SSc.

METHODS

A provisional International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-based 65-item questionnaire previously developed from interviews of people with SSc was sent by email to all patients followed in the internal medicine department of Cochin hospital (n = 184) and enrolled in the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Cohort. Items were reduced according to their metric properties. Dimensional structure of the questionnaire was assessed by principal component analysis, convergent and divergent validities by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, internal consistency by Cronbach's α, and reliability by a test-retest method using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 113 of 184 patients (61·4%) completed the provisional questionnaire. The item-reduction process resulted in a 17-item questionnaire, the Cochin 17-item Scleroderma Functional scale (CSF-17). Principal component analysis extracted two dimensions: 10 items related to mobility (CSF-17 section A) and seven items related to general tasks (CSF-17 section B). We observed convergent validity of the CSF-17 total score with global activity limitation, pain, depression and aesthetic burden, and divergent validity with anxiety. Cronbach's α was 0·94 for section A and 0·95 for section B. ICC (n = 25 patients) was 0·92 for the CSF-17 total score. Bland-Altman analysis did not reveal a systematic trend for the test-retest.

CONCLUSIONS

The CSF-17 is a new PROM assessing activities and participation specifically in people with SSc. Its content and construct validities are very high. What is already known about this topic? In the earliest stages of construction patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) for people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) rarely involve the target population. Instruments able to capture the specific needs of people with SSc in terms of activities and participation are lacking. What does this study add? The Cochin 17-item Scleroderma Functional Scale (CSF-17) is a new PROM assessing global activities and participation specifically in people with SSc. Patients' perspectives were prioritized at all stages of construction. What are the clinical implications of this work? The CSF-17 could be used in clinical practice and research to assess the efficacy of complex multidisciplinary interventions targeting activity limitations and participation restriction in people with SSc. Linked Comment: Clark and Denton. Br J Dermatol 2020; 183:610.

A Phase 2 Randomized Study Investigating the Efficacy and Safety of Myostatin Antibody LY2495655 versus Placebo in Patients Undergoing Elective Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Total hip arthroplasty relieves joint pain in patients with end stage osteoarthritis. However, postoperative muscle atrophy often results in suboptimal lower limb function. There is a need to improve functional recovery after total hip arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVES

To assess safety and efficacy of LY2495655, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting myostatin, in patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty.

DESIGN

Phase 2, randomized, parallel, double-blind, 12-week clinical trial with a 12-week follow-up period.

SETTING

Forty-two sites in 11 countries.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals (N=400) aged ≥50 years scheduled for elective total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis within 10 ± 6 days after randomization.

INTERVENTION

Placebo or LY2495655 (35 mg, 105 mg, or 315 mg) subcutaneous injections at weeks 0 (randomization date), 4, 8, and 12 with follow up until week 24.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary endpoint: probability that LY2495655 increases appendicular lean mass (operated limb excluded) by at least 2.5% more than placebo at week 12, using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Exploratory endpoints: muscle strength, performance based and self-reported measures of physical function, and whole body composition over time.

RESULTS

Participants: 59% women, aged 69 ± 8 years, BMI 29 ± 5 kg/m2. Groups were comparable at baseline. The primary objective was not reached as LY2495655 changes in lean mass did not meet the superiority threshold at week 12. However, LY2495655 105 and LY2495655 315 experienced progressive increases in appendicular lean mass that were statistically significant versus placebo at weeks 8 and 16. Whole body fat mass decreased in LY2495655 315 versus placebo at weeks 8 and 16. No meaningful differences were detected between groups in other exploratory endpoints. Injection site reactions occurred more often in LY2495655 patients than in placebo patients. No other safety signals were detected.

CONCLUSION

Dose-dependent increases in appendicular lean body mass and decreases in fat mass were observed, although this study did not achieve the threshold of its primary objective.

French adaptation and validation of the Osteoarthritis Quality of Life scale

OBJECTIVE

The Osteoarthritis Quality of Life scale (OAQoL) is an osteoarthritis-specific measure developed in the United Kingdom by a needs-based approach. This study describes the adaptation and validation of this English scale into French.

METHODS

The OAQoL was translated into French by a dual-panel technique followed by cognitive debriefing interviews. Internal consistency was assessed by the Cronbach α. Construct validity was tested by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and by convergent and divergent correlations with other patient-reported outcome measures by the Spearman rho (ρ). Reliability was explored by Spearman rho as well as the Bland and Altman method for the total score and Cohen's kappa for each item score.

RESULTS

Cognitive debriefing revealed the French OAQoL to be clear, relevant and comprehensive. The Cronbach α was 0.91. Exploratory factor analysis extracted 4 groups of items. After eliminating 4 items, confirmatory factor analysis of the remaining 18 items confirmed higher intra-factor than inter-factor correlations. The expected convergent and divergent correlations were observed. Test-retest reliability was good (ρ 0.93) and was confirmed by Bland and Altman analysis; most items (12/18) had kappa values from 0.61 to 0.80.

CONCLUSION

The French OAQoL is an easy-to-use 18-item questionnaire with good content and construct validity to assess the impact of osteoarthritis on quality of life for French-speaking patients.

Checklists to manage pain induced by exercise and mobilization (PIEM) during physical therapy programs: PIEM checklists for practitioners and physiotherapists

OBJECTIVES

Identify key informational and educational items ("messages") to provide to physicians (general practitioners and specialists) and physiotherapists for the management of pain induced by exercise and mobilization (PIEM). Develop checklists to improve this management in daily practice.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The Delphi method for consensus-building was used to identify informational and educational messages for health professionals who deal with PIEM. Informed by the results of an extensive qualitative study, a panel of experts from 5 medical and paramedical disciplines concerned with PIEM and a representative of a patients' association were interviewed individually and iteratively in order to obtain a single, convergent opinion.

RESULTS

Delphi consultation helped to determine 9 areas corresponding to 54 key messages of information and education for doctors and physiotherapists who deal with PIEM. These messages relate to: defining, characterizing, identifying, and evaluating PIEM; identifying factors that may cause or increase this pain; informing the patient in order to avoid misinterpretation of PIEM; preventing and treating PIEM; and dealing with it during physical therapy sessions. The method also enabled us to develop 2 synthetic instruments (checklists) - 1 for physicians and 1 for physiotherapists - to help with the management of this pain.

CONCLUSION

Consulting a panel of experts comprising different categories of actors dealing with PIEM on the basis of a thorough qualitative diagnosis in order to identify messages for a training program makes it possible to harmonize programs with the expectations of patients and the problems encountered by professionals. The formulation of this program and the institutionalization of two checklists should enable health professionals to identify, qualify, and deal more effectively with PIEM.

Vertebral subchondral bone

Vertebral subchondral bone, also known as bony or osseous endplate, is an important anatomical part of the spine, including cartilage endplate and intervertebral disk. Vertebral subchondral bone plays a critical role in spinal function and maintenance of intervertebral disk health. Recent data suggest that some vertebral subchondral bone changes, detected by MRI and described as Modic changes, may be specifically associated with degenerative disk disease and chronic low back pain, and that these changes may be related to local inflammation. Thus, Modic changes may be a useful imaging biomarker to identify particular sub-groups of patients with chronic low back pain for whom a link between pathoanatomy, namely vertebral subchondral bone alterations, and pain can be established. Such identification may give rise to develop more specific therapies targeting, for example, inflammatory changes involving vertebral subchondral bone in Modic change-associated non-specific chronic low back pain.

Anterior superior iliac spine avulsion in a young soccer player

Avulsion fractures of the anterior superior iliac spine are rare. They usually occur in teenagers during sport activities. Cases concerning adults are very uncommon. We report here the case of a 23-year-old man who was admitted for recent pain of the left hip that worsened while kicking a ball in a soccer match eight days earlier. The examination found pain when moving the left hip in extension. Radiographs showed an avulsion fracture of the left anterior superior iliac spine, which was confirmed by computer tomography. The treatment was conservative consisting in rest and non-weight bearing with releasing of pain a few weeks later.

Impact of digital ulcers on disability and health-related quality of life in systemic sclerosis

Objective:

To assess the impact of digital ulcers (DUs) on disability and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods:

Two hundred and thirteen patients with SSc were evaluated at four annual meetings of a patient society between 2004 and 2007 (n = 177) or during hospital stay (n = 36). HRQoL was assessed by the SF-36, global disability by the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), hand disability by the Cochin Hand Function Scale (CHFS) and global hand and wrist mobility by the Kapandji index.

Results:

Sixty-seven patients (31.4%) had at least one DU at the time of evaluation. Patients with DUs showed significantly more pitting scars (p<0.001) and calcinosis (p<0.0001) than others. Patients with DU had significantly greater HAQ (mean (SD) 1.218 (0.723) vs 0.930 (0.717), p = 0.008), CHFS (mean (SD) 27.38 (20.68) vs 16.73 (18.19), p<0.0001) and aesthetic prejudice (mean (SD) 6.1 (2.2) vs 3.9 (2.5), p<0.0001) scores than others. Hand and wrist mobility were significantly diminished in patients with DU (mean (SD) Kapandji score 75.3 (22.8) vs 81.7 (19.2), p<0.0001). The presence of a DU did not significantly alter the physical component but influenced the mental component (mean (SD) 43.38 (12.53) vs 39.58 (9.54), p = 0.026) of the SF36.

Conclusion:

Patients with SSc with DUs have reduced wrist and hand mobility, increased global and hand disabilities and decreased mental component of HRQoL.

Active or passive pain coping strategies in hip and knee osteoarthritis? Results of a national survey of 4,719 patients in a primary care setting

OBJECTIVE

To study pain coping strategies in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), and to assess the psychometric qualities of the French version of the Pain Coping Inventory (PCI).

METHODS

We conducted a national, cross-sectional survey in a primary care setting in France. A total of 1,811 general practitioners included 5,324 patients with hip and knee OA who completed several questionnaires, including the PCI, which assesses ability to cope with pain.

RESULTS

The records of 4,719 (86.4%) patients were analyzed (knee 2,781; hip 1,553; hip and knee 385). Supporting the structure of the original questionnaire, we found that the 33 PCI questionnaire items could be grouped into 3 domains defining active coping strategies and 3 defining passive coping strategies. Acceptable convergent validity was found for the PCI (Cronbach's alpha coefficient for each domain >0.68). Coping strategy scores were significantly higher in patients with both knee and hip involvement (mean +/- SD 2.3 +/- 0.4) than for patients with OA at 1 site (mean +/- SD 2.1 +/- 0.4), and in women compared with men (P < 0.001). The use of passive pain coping strategies increased with OA duration, and was greater in older and overweight patients, in patients with no current physical activity or major impairment, in retired and nonworking patients, and in patients who were not married, and to a lesser extent in patients with higher pain intensity. Compared with previous data, patients with OA demonstrated lower active and higher passive strategies than patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic painful conditions.

CONCLUSION

The PCI has good structural validity and is highly suitable for analyzing active and passive pain coping strategies in OA. In OA, active and passive coping strategies differ significantly as a function of age, body mass index, OA involvement, professional and marital status, sport activities, and OA duration, with pain intensity having a weaker effect.

Disability and quality of life of patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis in the primary care setting and factors associated with general practitioners' indication for prosthetic replacement within 1 year

OBJECTIVE

To assess disability and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with knee or hip OA in primary care and to determine factors associated with GPs' opinion that their patients will need prosthetic replacement within 1 year after the consultation.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional national survey.

SETTING

Primary care in France.

PARTICIPANTS

1471 GPs and 4183 patients with hip or knee OA.

MEASURES

Pain on an 11-point numeric scale (0-10), disability on the Western Ontario and MacMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) (1-100) and Lequesne index (0-24), and quality of life on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form (MOS SF-36; 0-100).

RESULTS

We analyzed records of 4121 patients (2540 knee, 1581 hip OA). Patients with knee or hip OA exhibited high and similar levels of pain (5.2+/-2.1 and 5.3+/-2.3) and disability (Lequesne score: 12.0+/-4.2 and 11.8+/-4.3; WOMAC score: 45.7+/-19.3 and 45.2+/-17.3) The decrease in HRQoL was similar for patients with either location of the disease. GPs more often considered that their patients with hip OA would need prosthetic replacement within 1 year (28.1%) than those with knee OA (15.8%). Most factors associated with GPs' opinion were identified for both locations of disease and were related to disability and pain levels.

CONCLUSIONS

In the primary care setting, patients with knee or hip OA have similar, high disability levels and substantially low HRQoL. Patients' disability seems to play a central role in GPs' opinion of the need for their patients with either type of OA to undergo prosthetic replacement within 1 year.