Objective. To evaluate activity limitations 3 years after diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in relation to grip force and sex. Methods. A total of 217 patients, 153 women and 64 men, with recent-onset RA were included. Activity limitations were reported using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Evaluation of Daily Activities Questionnaire (EDAQ). The relationships between activity limitations versus grip force (measured by the Grippit), walking speed, functional impairment, grip ability, pain, plasma C-reactive protein, the 28-joint disease activity score and its components, the physician's global assessment of disease activity, and sex were analyzed by partial least squares (PLS). Results. Women had significantly lower grip force and more activity limitations (HAQ and EDAQ) than men. The PLS analyses demonstrated that grip force was the strongest regressor of activity limitation, closely followed by walking speed. However, within subgroups based on grip force (group 1 ‫؍‬ grip force <114 N, group 2 ‫؍‬ 116 -206 N, group 3 ‫؍‬ 214 -321 N, group 4 ‫؍‬ grip force >328 N) and including sexes, women and men had corresponding degrees of activity limitation as reported by the HAQ and EDAQ. Conclusion. Our results indicate that the more pronounced activity limitations seen in women with RA, as compared with men, may be explained by lower grip force rather than sex.

Objective. To identify activity limitation in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to detect patients needing assistive devices. To evaluate the effects of assistive devices. Methods. A multicenter cohort of 284 early RA patients was examined using the Evaluation of Daily Activity Questionnaire 12 and 24 months after diagnosis.Results. The extent of activity limitation was stable over time for both women and men. Most limitations concerned eating and drinking. Women reported more difficulties than did men. The use of assistive devices was related to subgroups with severe disease and more disability. Use of assistive devices reduced difficulties significantly. For both women and men, assistive devices were mostly used in activities related to eating and drinking. Conclusion. Already 1 year after diagnosis, RA patients reported activity limitation that remained stable over time. Use of assistive devices was related to more severe disease and more pronounced disability. Use of devices reduced difficulties significantly.

Smart glasses are suggested as a complement to existing monitoring and routines and cannot replace human presence in intensive care.

The Nottingham Health Profile was effective in showing an improvement in quality of life in both groups after surgery. The observed difference in clinical bowel function was not, however, reflected in an improved quality of life score as measured by the Profile.

Initial functional ability (Barthel Index, mean 57) was found to be an important predictor of functional ability 1 year after stroke (mean 80) and for costs during the period. On average the total cost for a stroke patient was about SEK 200,000; the main expense, accommodation, averaged about SEK 140,000, while assistive devices amounted to SEK 2,600. Those who use assistive devices, although having achieved a high functional ability, perceive and rate their life situation (Nottingham Health Profile) considerably more impaired than those without assistive devices.

The time-course followed similar patterns for most variables, but only a small part of the variation in health-related quality of life was explained or predicted by the clinical/laboratory variables. This implies that health-related quality of life adds important information to clinical/laboratory assessments in clinical practice and should be considered in goal setting together with clinical/laboratory assessment in order to optimize healthcare and outcome.

The purpose of the study was to provide knowledge, from a user perspective, about the selection process for assistive devices. Thirty-eight persons who had suffered stroke were interviewed about their assistive devices, approximately one year after stroke. It was found that the patients had little influence on the choice of assistive devices and that the maintenance and follow-up routines varied among patients. In some cases follow-up was not done at all. Despite these deficits, the patients used their assistive devices as intended.

A new program based on improved user participation for the selection of assistive devices was implemented and its effectiveness and efficiency assessed. The intervention was compared with traditional routines. The study population comprised persons with rheumatoid arthritis who lived in two communities in Sweden. The selection process yielded increased user participation, user satisfaction, an increased number of prescriptions, and consequently also higher costs. The outcome measures showed more vague improvements. No improvement in functional ability was found regarding pain and difficulty with daily activities in the two study groups, but an increased use of assistive devices was found among women below 64 years in the intervention group (p = 0:001). Women below 64 years in the intervention group rated an improved health-related quality of life regarding both the total score (p = 0:017) and the underlying dimensions of physical function (p = 0:012). Even though the intervention yielded positive results on process-variables as increased user participation and an increased number of prescribed assistive devices, only women below 64 years showed an increased use of assistive devices in daily activities and an improved health related quality of life.