Simple function tests, but not the modified HAQ, correlate with radiological joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To test the validity of the Modified Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ) for assessment of physical disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Sixty-one RA patients with mean age of 61 years and median disease duration of four years were included in this cross sectional study. The patients completed the MHAQ. Four simple function tests were performed (walk test, chair test, upper extremity mobility test, and grip strength) and a modified Larsen score was established. Pain score (VAS) and laboratory variables for inflammation were recorded.


RESULTS
MHAQ, function tests, pain, and C reactive protein (CRP) showed highly significant mutual correlations (p < 0.01). However, MHAQ did not correlate with Larsen score (R = 0.06; NS), while most function tests did (walk test, R = 0.29; p < 0.05; chair test, R = 0.21; NS; mobility test, R = 0.36; p < 0.01 and grip strength, R = -0.35 p < 0.01). The superiority of function tests was even more pronounced after four years (walk test, R = 0.31; p < 0.05; chair test, R = 0.50; p < 0.01; mobility test, R = 0.49; p < 0.01; grip strength, R = -0.52; p < 0.01; MHAQ, R = 0.34; NS).


CONCLUSIONS
Objective function tests are preferable to MHAQ in the assessment of physical disability in RA.
Arvidson
Nils Gunnar
NG
Department of Rheumatology, Kongsvinger Hospital, NO-2226 Kongsvinger, Norway. ngaarro@hotmail.com
Larsson
Anders
A
Larsen
Arvi
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002097:C-Reactive Protein