[HAQ-DI Italian version in systemic sclerosis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the Italian version of HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index) in systemic sclerosis (SSc).


METHODS
121 SSc patients, satisfying ACR criteria for the classification of this disease and consecutively admitted to a tertiary Unit, were invited to participate to the study. The Italian version of HAQ-DI, as validated in rheumatoid arthritis, was administered to each of them. The relationships between this parameter and the following disease aspects: disease subset, wide extent of skin sclerosis, joint contractures, myopathy, active digital ulcers, were investigated.


RESULTS
HAQ-DI resulted to be 0.772+/-0.074 (mean+/-SE) Statistically significant differences in HAQ-DI scores were detected between patients with and respectively without wide extent of skin sclerosis (ie modified Rodnan skin score >14) (1.158+/-0.176 vs 0.652+/-0.076; P<0.001), joints contractures (0.839+/-0.076 vs 0.159+/-0.147; P<0.001), myopathy (1.875+/-0.184 vs 0.656+/-0.071; P<0.001), digital ulcers (1.047+/-0.135 vs 0.680+/-0.109; P=0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data support the validity of the Italian version of HAQ-DI in SSc.
La Montagna
G
G
Dipartimento di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Sezione di Reumatologia.
Cuomo
G
G
Chiarolanza
I
I
Ruocco
L
L
Valentini
G
G
D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000145:classification*