Changes in Physical Function using Three Methods of Scoring the Health Assessment Questionnaire in Established Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

Indian Journal of Rheumatology, vol. 18

Abstract

Background: We investigated sensitivity to change of three scoring methods of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) in relation to change in disease activity in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients and Methods: Adult RA-patients with complete data in the Measurement of Efficacy of Treatment in the Era of Outcome in Rheumatology database with respect to the 20 HAQ questions and disease activity score with 28-joint count using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) for 2 visits, at least 6–12 months apart, and high disease activity (DAS28-ESR >5.1) at visit 1. Changes in HAQ scored by the (1) conventional method (HAQ-8), (2) HAQ-Tomlin method (HAQ-T), and (3) HAQ-20-item method (HAQ-20) were analyzed in relation to the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) RA response criteria, dichotomized to good/moderate and no response. Results: In 421 patients, mean standard deviation (SD) DAS28-ESR declined significantly (6.1 [0.8]–4.8 [1.6], P < 0.0001), over a mean period (SD) of 8.7 (1.9) months. Median HAQ scores improved by all three scoring methods, HAQ-8 (1.6–1.4); HAQ-T (1.2–0.7); and HAQ-20 (1.2–0.9) with similar effect sizes of 0.97, 0.96, and 0.95, respectively. The proportion who achieved a HAQ minimally clinically important improvement (MCII) of ≥0.22 was significantly higher in 47% of patients with EULAR good/moderate score compared to the no response patients (64% vs. 11%, P < 0.0001). Good/moderate EULAR response, higher baseline DAS28, and higher baseline HAQ (7.11, 1.55, and 1.06, respectively) were independent predictors of achieving a HAQ-MCII. Conclusion: Three HAQ scoring methods performed similarly in sensitivity to change with no advantage of alternative scoring methods compared to the conventional HAQ-8 method. A good/moderate EULAR response, despite long disease duration, was associated with a significant likelihood of achieving a HAQ-MCII.

Authors 8

1. Lai Ling Winchow corresponding

   University of the Witwatersrand · Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

   Dr. Lai Ling Winchow, Division of Rheumatology, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, P. O. 2013 Bertsham, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected]

   Division of Rheumatology, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, P. O. 2013 Bertsham, South Africa

2. Mohammed Tikly

   University of the Witwatersrand · Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

   Division of Rheumatology, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, P. O. 2013 Bertsham, South Africa

3. Eustasius Musenge

   University of the Witwatersrand

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,

4. Arvind Chopra
   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Pune, Maharashtra, India,

5. T.W.J. Huizinga Aachen Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands,

6. Karen Salomon-Escoto

   UMass Memorial Health Care · University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School · UMass Memorial Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial Health and University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America,

   Division of Rheumatology,

   Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial Health and University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America

7. José Tavares‐Costa

   Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Minho

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Rheumatology, Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Minho, Ponte de Lima, Portugal

8. Nimmisha Govind

   University of the Witwatersrand · Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

   Division of Rheumatology, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, P. O. 2013 Bertsham, South Africa