Objectives To identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with post-Chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease. Methods A cohort study was conducted with 226 patients with post-Chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease (pCHIKV-CIJD), treated between July 2017 and January 2023 at the outpatient clinic of the University of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (73 patients presenting improved symptoms in the acute phase) and Group 2 (153 patients with persistent joint symptoms for > 3 months). Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were collected; disease activity was assessed by the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) during semiannual follow-ups along 24 months. Results Most patients were middle-aged women (86.3%, mean 51.1 years of age). Systemic arterial hypertension (hypertension: 26.5% versus 11.0%; p = 0.030) and osteopenia (8.3% versus 0.0%; p = 0.023) were associated with disease chronicity. At baseline visits, patients evolving into chronic disease presented a significantly increased frequency of hypertension, osteopenia, and morning stiffness (p < 0.001–p = 0.010). A progressive reduction in CDAI and the number of painful joints was observed, consistent with an increase in the percentage of patients with clinical improvement over time, which rose from 34.6% in the baseline visit (V1) to 72.5% in V4. Conclusions Factors such as female gender, middle age, hypertension, osteopenia, and morning stiffness at the acute phase of the disease are predictors of symptom persistence and progression to chronicity. Early therapeutic intervention with continuous clinical follow-up has proven to decrease disease activity over time, reinforcing the importance of proactive management to prevent the progression of pCHIKV-CIJD.<Table Float="No" ID="Taba"> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="c1" colnum="1" /> <colspec colname="c2" colnum="2" /> <tbody> <row> <entry align="left" nameend="c2" namest="c1"> Key Points • Female gender, middle age, hypertension, osteopenia, and morning stiffness predict chronic joint symptoms after Chikungunya infection. • Early treatment and regular follow-up reduce disease activity and improve patient’s outcomes over time. </entry> </row> </tbody> </tgroup> </Table>

Post-Chikungunya musculoskeletal symptoms and predictors of chronic inflammatory joint disease, Mato Grosso, Brazil

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年10月10日

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Maíra Sant Anna Genaro de Brito,
Micheli Said de Marchi,
Matheus Yung Perin,
Isabelle da Silva Côsso,
Clóvis Botelho,
Renata Dezengrini Slhessarenko

摘要

Objectives

To identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with post-Chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease.

Methods

A cohort study was conducted with 226 patients with post-Chikungunya chronic inflammatory joint disease (pCHIKV-CIJD), treated between July 2017 and January 2023 at the outpatient clinic of the University of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (73 patients presenting improved symptoms in the acute phase) and Group 2 (153 patients with persistent joint symptoms for > 3 months). Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were collected; disease activity was assessed by the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) during semiannual follow-ups along 24 months.

Results

Most patients were middle-aged women (86.3%, mean 51.1 years of age). Systemic arterial hypertension (hypertension: 26.5% versus 11.0%; p = 0.030) and osteopenia (8.3% versus 0.0%; p = 0.023) were associated with disease chronicity. At baseline visits, patients evolving into chronic disease presented a significantly increased frequency of hypertension, osteopenia, and morning stiffness (p < 0.001–p = 0.010). A progressive reduction in CDAI and the number of painful joints was observed, consistent with an increase in the percentage of patients with clinical improvement over time, which rose from 34.6% in the baseline visit (V1) to 72.5% in V4.

Conclusions

Factors such as female gender, middle age, hypertension, osteopenia, and morning stiffness at the acute phase of the disease are predictors of symptom persistence and progression to chronicity. Early therapeutic intervention with continuous clinical follow-up has proven to decrease disease activity over time, reinforcing the importance of proactive management to prevent the progression of pCHIKV-CIJD.

Key Points

• Female gender, middle age, hypertension, osteopenia, and morning stiffness predict chronic joint symptoms after Chikungunya infection.

• Early treatment and regular follow-up reduce disease activity and improve patient’s outcomes over time.