The effects of educational status and comorbidity on routine assessment of patient index data 3 and its correlation with disease activity score 28 and clinical disease activity index

• Published in: Indian journal of rheumatology 2020-12, Vol.15 (4), p.292-297
• Main Authors: Sahin, Kubilay, Ozisler, Cem, Yesil, Nesibe, Dortbas, Fulya, Omma, Ahmet, Aslar, Zeynep, Karaaslan, Yasar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: clinical disease activity index; comorbidity; disease activity score; education; rheumatoid arthritis; routine assessment of patient index data 3
• ISSN: 0973-3698; 0973-3701
• DOI: 10.4103/injr.injr_25_20

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disease which leads to significant morbidity. Formal quantitative swollen and tender joint count and indices like disease activity score 28 (DAS28) and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) are very specific for measuring disease activity. Routine assessment of patient index data 3 (RAPID3) is a patient-reported outcome measure used for the assessment and follow-up of RA which can be completed in 10 s. We aimed to determine the effects of patient educational status and comorbidity on RAPID3 and its correlation with DAS28 and CDAI. Methods: A total of 246 RA patients (80.1% female; mean age: 53.2 years) followed up for 3 years were asked to fill out RAPID3 questionnaires, and DAS28 and CDAI were calculated. Patients were subdivided according to disease severity as Group A (remission-minimal disease activity) and Group B (moderate-severe disease activity). The duration of disease, medications, educational status, comorbidity, and medical history were recorded. Results: The mean duration of disease was 8.44 years. Of the patients, 27.2% were illiterate and the mean education time was 4.9 years. The 47.6% of the patients had a comorbid disease. The correlation of RAPID3 with DAS28 and CDAI scores was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Similarly, educational status and the presence of comorbidity did not affect this correlation (P < 0.001). The kappa analysis showing compliance of RAPID3 with DAS28 and CDAI scores was also significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: RAPID3 is an index which shows a perfect correlation with DAS28/CDAI and can be used routinely for follow-up of RA patients and for decision-making for treatment. It can provide quantitative data with DAS28/CDAI in busy outpatient clinics not only in patients with different educational levels but also in patients with comorbid diseases.