Patient-physician discordance in assessments of global disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the degree of discordance between patient and physician assessment of disease severity in a multiethnic cohort of adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), to explore predictors of discordance, and to examine the impact of discordance on the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28).


METHODS
Adults with RA (n = 223) and their rheumatologists completed a visual analog scale (VAS) for global disease severity independently. Patient demographics, the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression scale score, the Health Assessment Questionnaire score, and the DAS28 were also collected. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of positive discordance, defined as a patient rating minus physician rating of >25 mm on a 100-mm VAS (considered clinically relevant). DAS28 scores stratified by level of discordance were compared using a paired t-test.


RESULTS
Positive discordance was found in 30% of cases, with a mean +/- SD difference of 46 +/- 15. The strongest independent predictor of discordance was a 5-point increase in PHQ-9 score (adjusted odds ratio 1.61, 95% confidence interval 1.02-2.55). Higher swollen joint count and Cantonese/Mandarin language were associated with lower odds of discordance. DAS28 scores were most divergent among subjects with discordance.


CONCLUSIONS
Nearly one-third of RA patients differed from their physicians to a meaningful degree in assessment of global disease severity. Higher depressive symptoms were associated with discordance. Further investigation of the relationships between mood, disease activity, and discordance may guide interventions to improve care for adults with RA.
Barton
Jennifer L
JL
Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. Jennifer.Barton@ucsfmedctr.org
Imboden
John
J
Graf
Jonathan
J
Glidden
David
D
Yelin
Edward H
EH
Schillinger
Dean
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012720:Severity of Illness Index