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• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Hand Osteoarthritis: associations of symptoms with Menopause and Estrogen-containing therapy

• IRAS ID

  282499

• Contact name

  Donna L. Kennedy

• Contact email

  Donna.kennedy1@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 5 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  TITLE: Hand Osteoarthritis: associations of symptoms with Menopause and Estrogen-containing therapy

  BACKGROUND: Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of OA with affected individuals often living with regular pain which affects day to day activities leading to worse quality of life. Treatment options are limited and most commonly involve pain relief and exercise. We have a poor understanding of the underlying condition and no drugs which slow the process down. The association between being female, menopause and OA has long been noted. However, evidence for a direct association between the onset of menopause and onset or worsening of hand OA is lacking. Low estrogen levels as one might see in menopause appear to be important in driving inflammation and musculoskeletal pain. However, the effects of estrogen-containing therapies have not been studied in detail in symptomatic hand OA to date to our knowledge.

  AIMS: To explore the relationship between the timing of onset of hand OA symptoms and onset of menopause in women with symptomatic hand osteoarthritis. To describe if the current or previous use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), or stopping this medication is associated with the time of onset of hand OA symptoms in post-menopausal women. This study aims to increase our understanding of hand OA with a view to designing better interventions.

  DESIGN: We will review existing medical records (this is a retrospective, non-interventional study).

  DURATION: This is a retrospective study to be completed by end of December 2020.
  Population: Consecutive female patients aged 18 years and older with a confirmed diagnosis of hand OA attending the hand OA clinic between July 2007 and July 2015

  OUTCOME MEASURES
  Primary: Time between FMP and onset of hand symptoms (years)
  Secondary: Age of onset of hand OA symptoms categorized by MHT use and/or its cessation

• REC name

  N/A

• REC reference

  N/A