Orthopedic visits and procedures preceding rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis: A nationwide case-control study
Main finding · Orthopedic visitsResult — go to the resultOdds ratio 2.80 95% CI 2.28–2.72Authors' conclusion
Prior to their formal diagnosis, RA patients seek more orthopedic and hand surgeon services in the years preceding diagnosis, compared to matched controls.
Study context
- Population
- Leumit Healthcare Services electronic database; Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosed 2002–2023 and matched controlsmatched case-control
- Participants
- 4,405 vs 22,025
- Comparison
- RA cases vs matched RA-free controls
- RAn = 4,405
- Controlsn = 22,025reference
- Outcome
- Orthopedic visits and procedures during the 5-year periods before diagnosis
- Follow-up
- 5 years before diagnosis
Methodological detailsnationwide, matched with 5 controls each on age, sex and SES, Leumit Healthcare Services electronic database
- Nationwide
- Matched with 5 controls each on age, sex and SES
- Leumit Healthcare Services electronic database
Main finding
Orthopedic visits
Odds ratio
2.80
95% CI 2.28–2.72
By group
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | RA | Controls | OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consulted hand specialists · 5 years before diagnosis | 7.9% | 3.3% | 2.3 (2.00–2.63) | |
| 0.20.5125Odds ratio (log scale) |
Timing of orthopedic visits before diagnosis
- Temporal gradient, with the strongest associations in the year preceding RA diagnosis
Most other surgical procedures, including shoulder, spine or foot
- No significant differences
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Orthopedic visits and procedures preceding rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis: A nationwide case-control study. Joint Bone Spine. Published 19 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →