New Haven Survey of Joint Diseases XV: Size of the Finger Joints in the General Population With and Without Osteoarthrosis

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Abstract
Acheson, R. M. (Director, Extension Training Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WCi E 7HT, England), von Stein, C. B., and Kelsey, J. L. New Haven survey of joint diseases. XV: size of the finger joints in the general population with and without osteoarthrosis. Int. J. Epid. 1972, 1 : 225–233. This report concerns 1,074 persons (478 men and 596 women) aged 21 and over from the general population of New Haven, Connecticut. Measurements were made of the circumference of the lunulae, and of the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints of the 3rd and 5th fingers of the left hand with jewelers' rings. Independently X-rays of the hands of these people were graded, joint-by-joint, on a 0–4 scale for osteoarthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The two cases of the latter disease were discarded from the present analysis. Symptoms of morning stiffness, joint swelling and nocturnal joint pain were recorded. A discriminant function analysis, which took into account circumference of lunula. weight/height;and age was undertaken on a sex and age specific basis for the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints of the 3rd and 5th fingers of the left hand to compare those with osteoarthrosis grades 2–4 with those grades 0–1. Results were similar for all four joints and are presented for the 3rd DIP (middle finger). These show that joint size plays an important role in discriminating between those persons who do and do not have osteoarthrosis. However, over 50 per cent of all the people who had osteoarthrosis of grade 2 or more, and have on an age and sex specific basis joint enlargement detected with jewelers' rings did not themselves report joint swelling nor did they report stiffness or pain. Symptoms were much more frequently associated with joint enlargement, with or without osteoarthrosis, in women than in men.

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