AD3_AUT13_8,11,20,21, 25,27,29_News_Layout 1 16/09/2013 20:40 Page 8
Autumn 2013
digestnews osteoarthritis
Poor sleep for partners of
people with arthritis
People with osteoarthritis could be preventing
their partners from getting a good night’s
sleep, says new research published in Pain.
Scientists recruited 145 couples in which
one of each pair had osteoarthritis and
moderate or high-intensity pain. They
recorded pain levels, sleep quality and how
rested they felt for 22 nights in a row.
Sleep quality was not linked to the severity
of pain experienced the day before, but did
correspond with discomfort the following
morning.
There was a strong relationship between the
level of pain and the quality of their partners’
sleep the same night.
“Sleep is a critical health behaviour, and
individuals whose sleep is affected by their
partner’s pain are at risk for physical and
psychiatric problems,” says Dr Lynn Martire
who led the research. “Spouses whose sleep is
compromised may also be less able to respond
empathically to patients’ symptoms and need
for support.”
Lower alcohol consumption link to arthritis
The research
People who develop early arthritis
(of any type) tend to drink less alcohol
than control populations, reports a
paper published in Rheumatology.
A total of 992 people who had had
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis,
reactive arthritis, spondyloarthritis
or psoriatic arthritis for two years or
less were compared with 5,868 people
without arthritis. All answered
questions about their alcohol
consumption.
Results showed that 83% of the
controls drank alcohol compared with
53–68% of people with arthritis. The
relationship was strongest in those with
rheumatoid arthritis. There was no
dose-response relationship and no association
ways,” says Diane van der Woude who was
involved in the research.
“One hypothesis might be that alcohol
may suppress both the innate and adaptive
immune system leading to a decrease of joint
inflammation, as has been suggested by some
previous studies.
“Another possible explanation for our
findings is that people with arthritis drink
less alcohol due to their illness. This
explanation seems probable since we
observed a relationship between alcohol and
the level of inflammation.”
between alcohol and the rate of joint
destruction when examined over seven years.
The implications
“Our findings can be interpreted in several
Next steps...
Although the study had limitations, the
findings shed new light on the interesting
association between alcohol consumption
and arthritis.
New gel for osteoarthritis
shows potential
A gel-based treatment could make a real
difference for people with osteoarthritis, says
a study published in the Journal of Rheumatology.
Flexiseq is a gel that contains phospholipids
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www.arthritisdigest.co.uk
similar to those in the lubricating synovial
fluid in joints. Designed to permeate the skin,
the phosp