Article

OBJECTIVE: To present the evidence for the efficacy of comprehensive
rehabilitation in a warm climate of patients with a wide variety of rheumatic
diseases.
A systematic review of the literature was undertaken,
searching in PubMed, Cinahl, Pedro, SweMed and Embase from 1970 to 2010, and
using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and
Evaluation system) criteria. RESULTS: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. For
patients with rheumatoid arthritis, moderate evidence was found for reduction of
disease activity, pain, fatigue, and global disease impact. The evidence was also
moderate that comprehensive rehabilitation in a warm climate did not improve
fitness or reduce activity limitation beyond levels reached by rehabilitation in
Scandinavia. Among patients with ankylosing spondylitis, low evidence was found
for reduction of disease activity, pain, joint range of motion, activity
limitation, and global disease impact. In groups with mixed rheumatic diagnoses,
low evidence was found for reduction of pain, activity limitation, global disease
impact and improved health-related quality of life. No studies on psoriatic
arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia or osteoporosis were found. CONCLUSION:
Well-designed studies to validate and improve the low-to-moderate evidence found
for the efficacy of comprehensive rehabilitation in a warm climate among patients
with inflammatory rheumatic disease are greatly needed.

Langue : ANGLAIS