Elbow replacement surgery: RA patients' partners affect progression

New research has identified a connection between depression in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient's partner and the progression of the disease, which could place those with unhappy spouses at a higher risk of requiring elbow replacement surgery.

The study, published in Arthritis Care and Research, examined the relationship between depression in the partner and C-reactive protein levels, as well as pain in the patient, finding a connection.

In a year-long period, these individuals experienced a worse course of the disease when factors such as disability, employment and age were taken into account.

"Our findings highlight the key role played by the spouse in disease course of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and point to the importance of including the spouse in clinical interventions," the authors asserted.

They assert that this is another element to patient wellbeing that medical professionals should take into account.

Earlier this month, Arthritis Care's head of policy and campaigns Federico Moscogiuri claimed that minimising joint inflammation and the duration it occurs for reduces the damage done to a patient's joints, lowering the risk of needing elbow replacement surgery.

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