LAUSR

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is autoimmune disease that usually involves cervical part of the vertebral column which can cause cervical proprioceptive deficit. Objectives Assessment of cervical proprioception and its relation with radiographic, clinical and functional characteristics of patients with RA Methods Rheumatoid arthritis patients who diagnosed according to ACR 2010 criteria and control group with healthy volunteers were recruited in the study. Demographic and clinical parameters were noted. Cervical proprioception was evaluated by Cervical Joint Position Error Test (CJPET). Functional assessment scales that used in this study were Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF), Beck Depression Inventory, Health Assessment Questionairre (HAQ), Euroqol 5D (EQ-5D) and Berg Balance Scale. Cervical subluxations were noted according to cervical radiographic image. The differerence in mean scores of CJPET between RA patients and healthy volunteers were analysed with Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman correlation coefficient (rho) was used for correlations between functional parameters. Regression analysis was used for grading factors which had relations with cervical proprioception. Results One hundred six rheumatoid arthritis patients and one hundred six healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Mean age of patients and healthy volunteers were 51,0 (Sd:11,1) and 48,9 (Sd:9,2), respectively. Scores of CJPET are statistically significantly higher in rheumatoid arthritis group than healthy volunteers (p=0,001) (table 1). CJPET scores are negatively correlated with Berg Balance Scale results in all directions (rho= −0,421,–0,473,−0,448,–0,515). Scores of CJPET in patients with atlantoaxial subluxations (AAS) were statistically significantly higher than those without AAS (p=0,002–0,045). Regression analysis results showed that AAS is related with worser cervical proprioception on right and left rotations. There were no correlation between CJPET scores and functional parameters. Weak corelation were found in scores of CJPET with age and educational status.Abstract AB0224 – Table 1 Comparison of cervical joint position error test scores between rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy volunteers Patients Healthy Volunteers P Min-Max Mean±SD Mean±SD CJPET- Right Rotation1–6 1,66–6,00 4,55±1,30 3,03±0,81 0001 CJPET- Left Rotation1–6 1,50–6,00 4,52±1,37 3,07±0,95 0001 CJPET- Flexion1–6 1,00–6,00 4,52±1,36 2,98±0,89 0001 CJPET- Extension1–6 1,50–6,00 4,57±1,29 3,00±0,93 0001 CJPET: Cervical Joint Position Error Test, SD: Standard Deviation, p<0,05 is significant Conclusions Cervical proprioception is impaired in rheumatoid arthritis patients. This impairement is increased with the existance of atlantoaxial subluxations and balance problems. Disclosure of Interest None declared