About
Many patients have been suggesting that traditional outcome measures and instruments do not capture all their experiences of living with their OA of the hips and knees, such like intermittent episodes or ‘flares’ of their disease. There are many other features beyond pain that can occur during these episodes, that have a big impact on their quality of life.
The key aim of the OA Flare Working Group is first, to identify the domains of Hip or Knee OA flare using OMERACT methodology. Second, to follow this with developing a composite measure, incorporating these domains.
Have Osteoarthritis? Help improve how flares are detected
OMERACT is supporting an international research study (WESH-OA) focused on improving how osteoarthritis (OA) flares are measured and used to guide treatment decisions.
This study is looking to better understand:
- Which aspects of an OA flare matter most (such as pain, stiffness, swelling, daily impact, and mood)
- At what point symptoms become severe enough for patients to adjust treatment themselves or for clinicians to change treatment
If you are living with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis, you are invited to take part by completing a short online survey.
What’s involved:
- Reflecting on your recent OA flare experience include need for any treatment
- Indicating which aspects of a flare are most important to you
- Time: approximately 15–20 minutes
- Confidential
👉 Start the survey here: https://enquetes.univ-lorraine.fr/index.php/622392?lang=en
We encourage clinicians and collaborators to share this opportunity with eligible patients to support broad and meaningful participation.
Current Stage in the OMERACT Process
The Flare-OA group is testing and refining its composite questionnaire, which measures flare experiences beyond pain alone. Studies on responsiveness and weighting are underway to prepare the measure for endorsement.
Latest Update
Recent Milestones Achieved
-
One randomized clinical trial and five cohort studies are underway, with over 450 patients enrolled.
-
Protocols for determining both weights and severity thresholds have been finalized and approved by the Flare-OA group. These protocols are currently under review by an ethics committee.
Upcoming Activities and Deliverables
-
Continued data collection from the ongoing randomized clinical trial and five cohort studies (totaling over 450 participants) to assess responsiveness.
-
Initiation of studies based on the approved protocols for determining dimension weights and severity thresholds, pending ethics approval.
Recent Publications
- Queiroga, Fabiana, et al. “The Flare-OA-16 Questionnaire Measuring Flare in Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis in the Patient Perspective: Scale Reduction and Validation Using a Rasch Model.” Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, vol. 174, 111488, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111488.
- Queiroga, Fabiana, et al. “A Scoping Review of Patient Self-Report Measures of Flare in Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis (OA): A Report from the OMERACT Flares in OA Working Group.” Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, vol. 63, 152281, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2023.152281.
- Queiroga, F., et al. “Assessing Domain Match and Feasibility of Candidate Instruments Matching with OMERACT Endorsed Domains to Measure Flare in Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis.” Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, vol. 65, 152371, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152371.
- King, Lauren K., et al. “Endorsement of the Domains of Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis (OA) Flare: A Report from the OMERACT 2020 Inaugural Virtual Consensus Vote from the Flares in OA Working Group.” Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, vol. 51, no. 3, 2021, pp. 618–22, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2021.03.010.
- Guillemin, Francis, et al. “Developing a Preliminary Definition and Domains of Flare in Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis (OA): Consensus Building of the Flare-in-OA OMERACT Group.” Journal of Rheumatology, vol. 46, no. 9, 2019, pp. 1188–91, https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.181085.
- Cross, Marita, et al. “Defining Flare in Osteoarthritis of the Hip and Knee: A Systematic Literature Review — OMERACT Virtual Special Interest Group.”Journal of Rheumatology, vol. 44, no. 12, 2017, pp. 1920–27, https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.161107.