NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk of serious infections, myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary heart disease (CHD), an analysis of Medicare claims data suggests. “Higher disease activity as measured by a panel of biomarkers was associated with higher rates of hospitalized infections, MI and CHD events. These findings add…
Physical Assessment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: It Just May Work
A recent U.K. study assessed the use of the Perrin technique to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome based on five physical signs of disease. Overall, researchers found the accuracy of diagnosis by allied health professionals was highest when using tests for only two signs: tender coelic plexus and postural/mechanical disturbances of the thoracic spine…
Obesity Linked with Disability After Joint Surgery
(Reuters Health)—People who undergo joint surgery, such as joint replacements for arthritis, are more likely to become dependent in the years following surgery if they are obese, researchers say. Further research is needed to know why this happens and how to prevent it, the study team writes in British Journal of Anaesthesia.1 “I think there’s…
The Diagnosis: How to Advise Newly Diagnosed RA Patients
Receiving an RA diagnosis may be emotional and difficult for patients. By engaging the patient in learning about the disease and its treatment options, as well as cultivating a communicative relationship, rheumatologists can truly help a patient take control of their health…
Update on ACR’s Rheumatology-Specific APM
Efforts by the ACR to develop a rheumatology-specific alternative payment model (APM) are well under way. The first draft proposal was approved by the ACR Board of Directors in November and presented to the rheumatology community during the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego. The ACR is pursuing the development of a rheumatology-specific APM…
Pedometers & RA: Does Increasing Physical Activity Decrease Fatigue?
Recent research examined the effectiveness of a pedometer-based intervention for managing fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). During the 21-week trial, RA patients using pedometers successfully increased their physical activity, with a greater than 30% decrease in the proportion of participants classified as sedentary. Patients also decreased their reported fatigue, and some reported improvements in function, pain, depressive symptoms and disease activity levels…
Etanercept’s New Autoinjection System; Plus FDA Approves Ixekizumab for Active PsA
In the U.S., a new formulation and an ergonomic delivery system for single doses of etanercept are now available for RA patients…
Many Doctors & Specialists Don’t Adhere to Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Generalist doctors, and even many specialists, have relatively poor knowledge of the American College of Rheumatology 1990 and 2010 fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria, according to results of a survey conducted in Canada. “Physicians do not have adequate and homogeneous knowledge of the fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria. Approximately half of physicians did not adhere to…
Vitamin D, Calcium Supplements May Not Lower Fracture Risk
(Reuters Health)—Older adults who take vitamin D and calcium are no less likely to break their hips or other bones than peers who don’t use these supplements, a research review suggests. Researchers examined data from 33 previous trials with a total of more than 51,000 people aged 50 or older who were living in the…
A Defect in Mitochondrial Function May Underlie Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may be unable to meet certain energetic demands, according to a U.K. study. Researchers found that PBMCs in healthy individuals may adapt to environmental stressors by enhancing their ability to increase ATP production through mitochondrial respiration, but not in patients with CFS…
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