People with rheumatoid arthritis experience better perioperative outcomes after hip and knee surgery, says study
Study suggests people with rheumatoid arthritis who underwent elective total hip and knee replacement (arthroplasty), experienced better perioperative outcomes than patients without the condition.
The scientists used the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify patients who underwent elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between 2000 and 2009 and collected data regarding patient- and health care system-related characteristics, comborbidities, in-hospital complications and mortality, and compared in-hospital outcomes between patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis.
Results of the study, which was published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology Online, showed that significantly lower overall in-hospital complications rates among patients with rheumatoid arthritis than those patients without the condition. Researchers found patients with rheumatoid arthritis who underwent THA also experienced a lower in-hospital mortality rate compared to patients without RA. Although results showed no significant difference for the in-hospital mortality rate between patients with RA and patients without RA who underwent TKA, researchers noted the rate decreased from 0.12% to 0.05% among patients with RA.
The study by Dr Hiroyuki Yoshihara, PhD, assistant professor of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, US, showed that a decreased risk of a number of in-hospital overall complications was associated with the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, according to results of a regression analysis. An increased risk of in-hospital mortality was not associated with the presence of RA, researchers found.
Dr Hiroyuki told Heolio.com/Rheumatology, “Perioperative outcomes of elective THA and TKA in patients with RA were better than those in patients without RA.
“These results may indicate that patient selection and pre- and perioperative management of patients with RA undergoing elective THA and TKA were well conducted in the US during the last decade.”
For more in-depth features, interviews and information, subscribe to Arthritis Digest magazine, a popular title that’s published six times a year. Click here for the digital version or tel 0845 643 8470 to order your had copy. You’ll know what your doctor is talking about, what new drugs are in the pipeline and be up to date on helpful products.
