Abstract
Objective Anxiety and/or depression play a major role in how the patient copes with osteoarticular
pathology. The aim of the present study is to describe the impact of mood disorders
in trapeziometacarpal arthrosis, or osteoarthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint
(CMC-1).
Materials and Methods We conducted a descriptive study in patients diagnosed with rhizarthrosis between
January 2018 and January 2020. Clinical and demographic factors were collected: age,
gender, body mass index (BMI), and diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression; as well
as factors specific to the pathology: laterality, degree of CMC-1 osteoarthritis,
grip strength, and pinch strength. The scores on the Visual analogue scale for pain
(VAS) and the short version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH)
questionnaire were also assessed.
Results We reviewed 107 patients (85% of them female) with a mean age of 59.48 ± 7.5 years
and a mean BMI of 28.29 Kg/m2. In total, 21.5% of the patients were diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression; as
for laterality, it was left for 51.4% and right for 48.6% of the patients. According
to the Eaton Scale, 54.2% of the patients were grade III, and 45.8%, grade IV. The
mean grip strength was of 15.64 kg, and the mean pinch strength was of 3.37 kg. The
mean score on the VAS was of 8.28 points, and the mean QuickDASH score was of 65.94
points.
Significant statistical associations were found regarding the diagnosis of anxiety
and/or depression and gender (p = 0.023), pinch strength (p = 0.007) and the QuickDASH score (p = 0.004). No statistical relationship was observe regarding other parameters. The
significance involving pinch strength disappeared when correcting for gender.
Conclusion The presence of anxiety and/or depression in patients with CMC-1 osteoarthritis,
is associated with the female gender and with a worse perception of the functionality
on the part of the patients (high QuickDASH scores), but not with pain according to
the VAS. This indicates the importance of always considering mood disorders when assessing
our patients, sue to their influence in the perception of the osteoarticular disease.
Keywords
CMC-1 osteoarthritis - anxiety - depression - upper limb function - grip strength
- pinch strength
