Relative results of the six different DAS28-based flare criteria on fulfilling the five hypotheses
| Criterion validity: databases 1 and 2 | Construct validity: database 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flare criteria | Hypothesis 1 | Hypothesis 2 | Hypothesis 3 | Hypothesis 4 | Hypothesis 5 |
| In patients classified as a having a flare: | Sens/spec patient > 70% compared with transition scale | Sens/spec physician > 70% compared with transition scale | Higher proportion of DMARD/corticosteroid change | Larger change in CRP | No change in depression |
| Fulfilled +/±/− | Fulfilled +/±/− | Fulfilled +/±/− | Fulfilled +/±/− | Fulfilled +/±/− | |
| 1) ΔDAS28 > 1.2, or > 0.6 if DAS28 > 5.1 | − | ± | + | + | − |
| 2) ΔDAS28 > 1.2, or > 0.6 if DAS28 ≥ 3.2 | ± | + | + | + | + |
| 3) ΔDAS28 > 0.6 or a DAS28 > 3.2 | ± | ± | − | − | + |
| 4) ΔDAS28 > 1.2 | − | ± | + | + | − |
| 5) Reaching DAS28 > 3.2 | + | + | − | − | + |
| 6) Reaching DAS28 > 2.6 | − | − | − | − | + |
DAS28, Disease Activity Score 28; Sens, sensitivity; Spec, specificity.
+ hypothesis is fulfilled; ± hypothesis is almost fulfilled; − hypothesis is not fulfilled.