Pain and joint mobility explain individual subdimensions of the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) disability index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: To explore the associations between individual subdimensions of the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and clinical variables in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: 304 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (73% female, mean (SD) age, 58 (13) years; disease duration 6 (9) years,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2005-01, Vol.64 (1), p.59-63
Main Authors: Häkkinen, A, Kautiainen, H, Hannonen, P, Ylinen, J, Arkela-Kautiainen, M, Sokka, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of Daily Living
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - complications
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - diagnostic imaging
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - pathology
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
Confidence intervals
Disability Evaluation
disease activity
disease modifying antirheumatic drug
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
DMARD
erosiveness
Extended Report
Female
Hand Strength
HAQ
HAQ subdimensions
health assessment questionnaire
Health Status Indicators
Humans
Inflammatory joint diseases
Laboratories
Logistic Models
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Mortality
Pain - etiology
Pain Measurement
Radiography
Range of Motion, Articular
range of movement
Reproducibility of Results
Rheumatism
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatology
ROM
Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Variables
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:Objective: To explore the associations between individual subdimensions of the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and clinical variables in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: 304 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (73% female, mean (SD) age, 58 (13) years; disease duration 6 (9) years, 69% rheumatoid factor positive) completed the HAQ for functional capacity (0–3) and a 100 mm visual analogue scale for pain. Grip strength, range of motion of the large joints, Larsen score for radiographic damage of hand and foot joints, and the number of tender and swollen joints were recorded. A logit regression model was used to study associations between subdimensions of the HAQ and other variables. Results: Mean (range) total HAQ score was 0.92 (0 to 2.88) and varied from 0.73 to 1.04 in the subdimensions. Disability was lowest in the "walking" and highest in the "reach" subdimension. Pain was an explanatory variable in all individual subdimensions. Decreased grip strength, limitation of shoulder and wrist motion, and a larger number of swollen and tender joints in the upper extremities were related to several subdimensions. A higher pain score and swollen joint count in the upper extremities, decreased grip strength, and limited motion of wrist, shoulder, and knee joints explained increased disability (higher total HAQ scores). Conclusions: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, pain and range of movements of joints have the greatest impact on individual subdimensions of the HAQ. Extent of radiographic damage in peripheral joints and the number of swollen and tender joints are of lesser importance for function.
ISSN:0003-4967
1468-2060
DOI:10.1136/ard.2003.019935