QUEST-RA: quantitative clinical assessment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis seen in standard rheumatology care in 15 countries

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2007-11, Vol.66 (11), p.1491-1496
• Main Authors: Sokka, Tuulikki, Kautiainen, Hannu, Toloza, Sergio, Mäkinen, Heidi, Verstappen, Suzan M M, Lund Hetland, Merete, Naranjo, Antonio, Baecklund, Eva, Herborn, Gertraud, Rau, Rolf, Cazzato, Massimiliano, Gossec, Laure, Skakic, Vlado, Gogus, Feride, Sierakowski, Stanislaw, Bresnihan, Barry, Taylor, Peter, McClinton, Catherine, Pincus, Theodore
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antirheumatic Agents - administration & dosage; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - diagnosis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Body mass index; Clinical medicine; Clinical trials; Cross-Sectional Studies; Databases, Factual; Disease; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Utilization - statistics & numerical data; Extended Report; Female; Humans; Inflammatory joint diseases; International Cooperation; Male; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Methotrexate - administration & dosage; Middle Aged; Patient assessment; Questionnaires; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatology; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Distribution; Translations
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2006.069252

Objective:To conduct a cross-sectional review of non-selected consecutive outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as part of standard clinical care in 15 countries for an overview of the characteristics of patients with RA.Methods:The review included current disease activity using data from clinical assessment and a patient self-report questionnaire, which was translated into each language. Data on demographic, disease and treatment-related variables were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics. Variation in disease activity on DAS28 (disease activity score on 28-joint count) within and between countries was graphically analysed. A median regression model was applied to analyse differences in disease activity between countries.Results:Between January 2005 and October 2006, the QUEST-RA (Quantitative Patient Questionnaires in Standard Monitoring of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis) project included 4363 patients from 48 sites in 15 countries; 78% were female, >90% Caucasian, mean age was 57 years and mean disease duration was 11.5 years. More than 80% of patients had been treated with methotrexate in all but three countries. Overall, patients had an active disease with a median DAS28 of 4.0, with a significant variation between countries (p50 patients included, low disease activity of DAS28 ⩽3.2 was found in the majority of patients in seven sites in five countries; in eight sites in five other countries, >50% of patients had high disease activity of DAS28 >5.1.Conclusions:This international multicentre cross-sectional database provides an overview of clinical status and treatments of patients with RA in standard clinical care in 2005–6 including countries that are infrequently involved in clinical research projects.