Survey Sheds Light on Prevalence of UC-Associated Peripheral Arthralgias and Arthritis

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Although rates of self-reported peripheral arthralgia and arthritis, as well as rates of exam-based joint pain with motion, are higher among individuals with a history of ulcerative colitis (UC) compared with individuals without UC, rates of exam-based swelling are not, according to new survey data released during the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) annual meeting, ACR Convergence.

“This may suggest that much of UC patients’ joint pain is due to periarticular structure involvement, including possible tenosynovitis and enthesitis, and that point-prevalence of true arthritis is low consistent with [peripheral spondyloarthritis] patients,” the researchers wrote.

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The survey consisted of previously unreported data from the National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey II (1976-1980) and was used to estimate the prevalence of UC-associated peripheral arthralgia and arthritis in the United States. 

Among 10,404 participants interviewed and examined by physicians at mobile examination centers, 131 people had a history of UC, according to the study. 

Past or present peripheral arthralgia was reported by 34% of participants with UC and by 21% of participants without UC. Past or present peripheral arthritis was reported by 20% of participants with UC compared with 11% without the condition.

Participants with UC also had significantly increased examination findings compared with those without UC. Notably, 11.9% of patients with UC had joint pain with passive motion on exam compared with 6.6% of participants without UC. 

The prevalence of exam-based joint swelling was similarly low for participants with and without UC, the survey showed, at 2.9% among both groups.

—Jolynn Tumolo

Reference:

Stens O, Kim H, Hou J, Weisman M. The US prevalence of ulcerative colitis associated peripheral arthralgias and arthritis: data from the National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Study presented at: American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2020; November 5-9, 2020; Virtual. Accessed November 3, 2020. https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/the-us-prevalence-of-ulcerative-colitis-associated-peripheral-arthralgias-and-arthritis-data-from-the-national-health-nutrition-examination-survey-nhanes/