EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis of hand osteoarthritis: report of a task force of ESCISIT.
OBJECTIVE
To develop evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis of hand osteoarthritis (OA).


METHODS
The multidisciplinary guideline development group, representing 15 European countries, generated 10 key propositions regarding diagnosis using a Delphi consensus approach. For each recommendation, research evidence was searched for systematically. Whenever possible, the sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratio (LR) were calculated; relative risk and odds ratios were estimated for risk factors for hand OA. Quality of evidence was categorised using the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) hierarchy, and strength of recommendation was assessed by the EULAR visual analogue scale.


RESULTS
Diagnostic topics included clinical manifestations, radiographic features, subgroups, differential diagnosis, laboratory tests, risk factors and comorbidities. The sensitivity, specificity and LR varied between tests depending upon the cut-off level, gold standard and controls. Overall, no single test could be used to define hand OA on its own (LR <10) but a composite of the tests greatly increased the chance of the diagnosis. The probability of a subject having hand OA was 20% when Heberden nodes alone were present, but this increased to 88% when in addition the subject was over 40 years old, had a family history of nodes and had joint space narrowing in any finger joint.


CONCLUSIONS
Ten key recommendations for diagnosis of hand OA were developed using research evidence and expert consensus. Diagnosis of hand OA should be based on assessment of a composite of features.
Zhang
W
W
Dr W Zhang, Academic Rheumatology, University of Nottingham, Clinical Sciences Building, City Hospital, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK. weiya.zhang@nottingham.ac.uk
Doherty
M
M
Leeb
B F
BF
Alekseeva
L
L
Arden
N K
NK
Bijlsma
J W
JW
Dincer
F
F
Dziedzic
K
K
Hauselmann
H J
HJ
Kaklamanis
P
P
Kloppenburg
M
M
Lohmander
L S
LS
Maheu
E
E
Martin-Mola
E
E
Pavelka
K
K
Punzi
L
L
Reiter
S
S
Smolen
J
J
Verbruggen
G
G
Watt
I
I
Zimmermann-Gorska
I
I
D000328:Adult; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000175:diagnosis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D050823:Hand Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors