Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire in rheumatoid arthritis patients: relationship with disease activity, quality of life, and handgrip strength.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to evaluate the relationship between MHQ and disease activity, quality of life (QL), and handgrip strength separately.


METHODS
Eighty RA were included in the study. Disease activity is evaluated with Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), pain is evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), MHQ, Short-Form 36 (SF-36), and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales-hand and finger function scale-2 (AIMS-2) were completed by all patients. Hand muscle strength (HMS) was measured with a hand-held dynamometer.


RESULTS
The MHQ moderately correlated with DAS28. When the patients were grouped according to three disease activity measurements, DASH scores were significantly higher with higher disease activity and MHQ scores were significantly lower with higher disease activity. A high correlation was found between MHQ total and HAQ, AIMS-2. The SF-36 scores were correlated with MHQ scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The MHQ scores correlate with disease activity indices, functional disability, QL and DASH. The clinical relevance of MHQ, like DASH, is high and both questionnaires can be used effectively.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
Dilek
D
Durmus
Bora
B
Uzuner
Yunus
Y
Durmaz
Ayhan
A
Bilgici
Omer
O
Kuru
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life
DASH; HAQ; MHQ; Rheumatoid Arthritis; SF-36; disease activity