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Abstract
Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, erozive disorder which may lead to permanent joints damage. Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) is frequently used for evaluating functional disability in RA patients.
Objectives The aim of this study is to determine the effect of biologic treatment on functional disability in RA patients.
Methods HUR-BIO (Hacettepe University Rheumatology Biologic Registry) is a prospective, monocentric database of biological treatments including 1229 RA patients by August 2016. 523 patients in whom HAQ assessment before biologics was avaliable, were recruited in this retrospective analysis. HAQ score ≥1.0 was defined as severe functional disability.1 HAQ assesment at last follow-up visit were evaluated. Demographic,clinical and serologic data of patients were also collected. Improvement of HAQ score 0,22 points or more was considered as clinically significant response to treatment.1
Results Among 523 patients (80.5% female), mean age was 52.6±12.5 and mean disease duration was 9.4±7.3 years. Seropositivity for RF and/or CCP was present in 67.2% of patients. At baseline visit, HAQ score was ≥1.0 in 268 patients (51.2%). Baseline and last follow-up HAQ scores were 1.07±0.62 and 0.64±0.57. Minimal clinically significant improvement of HAQ score was observed in 238/377 patients (63.1%). Clinically significant response was more frequent in patients with baseline HAQ score of ≥1 (153/195 (78.4%) vs 85/182 (46.7%), p<0.001). Table 1 represents features of patients according to baseline HAQ score. Mean follow-up time was 16.4±16.4 months. Data of at least one visit was available for 377 (72.0%) patients.
Comparison of demographic an clinical data of patients according to baseline HAQ score
Conclusions Functional disabilty was observed approximately half of patients. Clinically significant improvement was more frequent among patients with higher baseline HAQ scores particularly. Biologic treatment seems to be provide significant functional improvement. However significant functional disability persists in one fourth of patients.
References
Lillegraven S., Kvien T.K. Measuring disability and quality of life in established rheumatoid arthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2007;21:827–840.
References
Disclosure of Interest None declared