Factors associated with disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis patients based on Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) at Sanglah Central General Hospital, Bali, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by systemic inflammation of the joints. Various factors are known to influence the disease activity of RA patients, both sociodemographic and clinical factors. The assessment of RA disease activity using the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) has been widely used. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with RA disease activity based on DAS28 (ESR).Methods: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted on RA patients aged 18-59 years The samples were grouped into two groups; the DAS28 score group <3.2 (mild disease activity) and DAS28 score > 3.2 (severe disease activity). Factors that influence disease activity in RA patients were taken from secondary data.Results: Patients in the severe disease activity group had a mean age that was older than the mild disease activity group (51.73 ± 12.12 vs 45.67 ± 12.46 years). In the severe disease activity group, higher ESR levels were found (42.00 (3.50-131.00) mm/hour vs 13.50 (0.71-53.40) mm/hour), higher CRP levels. (4.79 (0.30-121.80) mg/dl vs 2.61 (0.05-47.49) mg/dl) and higher pain VAS. The variables found to be associated with RA disease activity were age (p = 0.019), ESR level (p < 0.001), CRP (p = 0.022), and pain VAS (p < 0.001).Conclusion: DAS28 is a commonly used method to assess the severity of RA disease activity. Factors related to disease activity in RA patients based on DAS28 (ESR) were age, level of ESR, pain VAS and CRP.