Table 3

Risk factors indicative of disability in early RA

Author (reference)Study designRisk factors at baselineEvidence category
Table adapted from Kim JM and Weisman MH.18
Eberhardt and Fex59Prospective study of 67 patients with RA; functional assessment – HAQ; 1 year studyRaised HAQ score at baseline, female, low educationIII
Harrison et al60Prospective study of 200 patients with RA and 181 with inflammatory polyarthritis; functional assessment – HAQ; 1 year studyRaised HAQ score at baseline, large joint involvementIII
Möttönen et al54Prospective study of 142 patients with RA; functional assessment – HAQ; 6 year studyRF positive at 1 year, age >60, ≥4 swollen jointsIII
van Leeuwen et al61Prospective study of 149 patients; functional assessment – HAQ; 3 year studyIncreased tender jointIII
van Zeben et al58Prospective study of 132 patients with RA; functional assessment – HAQ; 6 year studyRF positive, number of swollen joints, and erosion scoreIII
Young et al62Prospective study of 151 patients with RA; functional assessment – HAQ; 3 year studyRF positiveIII