title: Factors associated with disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Analyze disability determinants in a cohort of Argentine patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with RA, according to ACR'87 criteria, were recruited from 6 rheumatology centers. Demographic and socioeconomic data, family history, comorbid diseases, extra-articular manifestations and information about received treatments were provided. Disease activity was assessed using Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28) and the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)-A was used for the functional capacity. Hand and feet radiographs were assessed using Sharp-van der Heijde score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 640 patients with RA were included, of which 85.2% were females. Mean age was 53 years (interquartile range [IQR], 44-62) and mean disease duration was 8 years (IQR, 4-14). DAS 28 mean was 2.72 (IQR, 1.7-3.7) and HAQ-A mean was 0.62 (IQR, 0.13-1.25). Multiple linear regression showed that the main variables associated with disability were DAS 28, radiologic damage and age. Main predictors of functional disability in the multiple logistic regression using severe HAQ (>2) as dependent variable were DAS 28 (OR, 2; P < 0.0001); age (OR, 1; P = 0.008); and structural damage (OR, 1; P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this population, the disease activity was the variable that showed the highest impact on the physical function. Radiologic damage affected HAQ as the disease progressed.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Rehabilitación Psicofísica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Emilce E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Schneeberger
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Citera
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maldonado Cocco
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salcedo
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiardola
authors.forename: Marcos G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rosemffet
authors.forename: María F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Marengo
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papasidero
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaparro Del Moral
authors.forename: Oscar L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Rillo
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bellomio
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lucero
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spindler
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duartes Noe
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Barreira
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lázaro
authors.forename: Sergio O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Paira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001118:Argentina; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D033023:Foot Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050823:Hand Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents