Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Hand Osteoarthritis: Investigating Pain Trajectories and Association With Biomarkers Including Estrogen Cohort

This study is for adults in the UK with painful hand osteoarthritis. We want to understand why hand pain can change – sometimes getting worse for a short time, and other times staying the same, getting better, or slowly getting worse over a longer period. We call these long-term changes in pain 'trajectories'. By looking at what factors might affect these changes, we hope to learn more about hand osteoarthritis. This knowledge could help us predict how someone's pain might develop in the future and pave the way for more effective treatments. Currently, all parts of the study are done from home, either online, by post, or over the phone.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

University of Oxford

Enrolment target

120

Start

07 Jul 2021

Estimated completion

07 Feb 2029

Hand Osteoarthritis

What is this study about?

If you have hand osteoarthritis, you might notice that your pain isn't always the same. Sometimes it might get worse for a short time, which we call a 'flare-up'. Other times, your pain might slowly get better, stay the same, or gradually worsen over many months or even years. This study wants to understand these different ways hand pain can change over time. We call these different patterns of change 'pain trajectories'.

By taking part, you’ll help researchers look for clues that explain why some people's pain improves, while others' pain stays the same or gets worse. They're also interested in whether certain things in your body, like hormones, are linked to these pain changes. Understanding these patterns and what drives them is a big step towards predicting how someone's hand osteoarthritis pain might develop in the future.

Ultimately, the goal is to gain a clearer picture of hand osteoarthritis, which could lead to better ways of managing pain and developing more personalised treatments for people living with this condition. Because of the recent pandemic, all parts of this study are currently carried out from your home, so you won't need to visit a clinic.

Key takeaways

This study aims to understand why hand pain in osteoarthritis changes over time.
It wants to identify different 'pain trajectories' and what factors influence them.
Participation involves completing online, postal, or phone questionnaires from home.
No new medicines or clinic visits are required.
Your involvement could help improve future treatments for hand osteoarthritis.
You can withdraw from the study at any time.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for adults aged 18 or over. You must have been told by a healthcare professional that you have hand osteoarthritis, or have experienced hand osteoarthritis pain for some time. You need to have pain in at least two joints in your hand or the base of your thumb, and this pain should be present on most days (at least 15 days) over the last month. You also need to be able to understand and complete questionnaires in English.

However, some things might mean you can't join. For example, if your hand pain is due to another condition like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, gout, or certain other illnesses. You also can't join if you’ve recently changed your pain medications, started new steroid treatments, or began new therapies like glucosamine or hand exercises within the last few weeks or months. The study team needs to make sure your hand pain is clearly due to osteoarthritis to get accurate results.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Have you been told you have hand osteoarthritis by a doctor or other healthcare professional (or have self-reported a diagnosis)?
Do you have pain in at least two joints in your hand or the base of your thumb?
Have you had hand pain on most days (at least 15 days) in the last month?
Can you understand and complete questionnaires in English?
Is your hand pain NOT caused by conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or gout?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

Taking part in this study means you'll be asked to complete questionnaires remotely – this means online, through the post, or over the phone. There are no clinic visits or new medications involved. You won't be given any experimental treatments. The study is purely observational, which means researchers will collect information about your pain and other factors over time. The exact number of questionnaires and how long you'll be followed isn't specified, but it's designed to track your pain changes over a longer period.

Potential risks and benefits

A potential benefit of joining is contributing to important research that could help future patients with hand osteoarthritis, leading to better understanding and possibly new treatments. As this is an observational study with no experimental treatments, the direct risks are very low, mainly involving the time and effort required to complete questionnaires. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect your usual medical care.

Locations (2)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Verified postcode
Oxford, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is 'hand osteoarthritis'?

It's a common condition where the smooth cartilage covering the ends of bones in your hand joints wears away, leading to pain, stiffness, and sometimes swelling.

What does 'observational study' mean?

It means researchers will observe and collect information about your health over time, without giving you any new treatments or medicines. They just watch how things naturally progress.

Do I need to visit a hospital or clinic?

No, currently all parts of this study are done remotely – meaning from your own home, either online, by post, or by phone.

Will I be given new medicine?

No, this study does not involve taking any new or experimental medicines. It's about understanding your current experience with hand osteoarthritis.

What are 'pain trajectories'?

It's a way of describing how your hand pain changes over a long period. Does it generally get better, stay the same, or slowly get worse? And what causes these patterns?