Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire Research Articles

Patient global assessment is elevated by up to 5 of 10 units in patients with inflammatory arthritis who screen positive for fibromyalgia (by FAST4) and/or depression (by MDS2) on a single MDHAQ

BackgroundPatient global assessment (PATGL) is a component of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) activity indices, reflecting inflammation in selected clinical trial patients. In routine care, PATGL often may be elevated independently of inflammatory activity by fibromyalgia (FM) and/or depression, leading to complexities in interpretation. A feasible method to screen for FM and/or depression could help to clarify interpretation of high PATGL and index scores, including explanation of apparent limited responses to anti-inflammatory therapies. Patients and MethodsPatients with RA or SpA in routine care in Barcelona, Chicago, and Sydney complete a 2-page multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) in 5–10 min. The MDHAQ includes PATGL and three indices, RAPID3 (routine assessment of patient index data) to assess clinical status, FAST4 (0–4 fibromyalgia assessment screening tool) and MDS2 (0–2 MDHAQ depression screen). PATGL was compared for each diagnosis at each site and pooled data in FAST4 positive (+) vs negative (-) and/or MDS2+ vs MDS2- patients using medians and median regressions. ResultsMedian PATGL was 5.0 in 393 RA and 175 SpA patients; 2.0–3.0 in 305 (58.9%) FAST4-,MDS2- patients, 5.5–6.0 in 71 (13.7%) FAST4-,MDS2+ patients, 7.0–7.5 in 50 (9.7%) FAST4+,MDS2- patients, and 7.0–8.0 in 92 (17.8%) FAST4+,MDS2+ patients. Positive FAST4 and/or MDS2 screens were seen in 41% of patients. Results were similar in RA and SpA at 3 settings on 3 continents. ConclusionMedian 0–10 PATGL varied from 2-3/10 to 5.5-8/10, according to negative vs positive screening for FM and/or depression on a single MDHAQ for busy clinical settings.

Who stop telemonitoring disease activity and who adhere: a prospective cohort study of patients with inflammatory arthritis

BackgroundThe use of frequent electronic patient reported outcome measures (ePRO’s) enables monitoring disease activity at a distance (telemonitoring) in patients with inflammatory arthritis. However, telemonitoring studies report declining long-term adherence to reporting ePRO’s, which may oppose the benefits of telemonitoring. Therefore, the objective was to investigate what factors are associated with (non-)adherence to telemonitoring with a weekly ePRO in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA).MethodsWe performed a prospective cohort study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at Reade Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Patients telemonitored their disease activity weekly for 6 months with a modified Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire completed in a smartphone application. The primary outcome was time to dropout, defined as ≥ 4 weeks of consecutively nonresponse. Based on literature and through expert meetings, a predefined set of 13 baseline factors were selected to assess the association with time to dropout through a multivariable Cox-regression analysis.ResultsA total of 220 consecutive patients were included (mean age 54, SD 12; 55% females; 99 RA, 81 PsA, and 40 AS). A total of 141 patients (64%) dropped out, with a median time to dropout of 17 weeks (IQR 9–26). Women had a significant higher chance to dropout over 6 months compared to men (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.06–2.36).ConclusionIn the set of investigated factors, women stopped reporting the weekly ePRO sooner than men. Future focus group discussions will be performed to investigate the reasons for dropout, and in specific why women dropped out sooner.Trial registration This trials was prospectively registered at www.trialregister.nl (NL8414).

Cross-cultural and clinical validation of the MDHAQ/RAPID3 questionnaire in electronic format for a Brazilian population of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundPatients with rheumatologic diseases are monitored fundamentally through metric tools or index calculated from clinical data and patient exams, which allow us to assess the severity of the disease and guide the therapeutic decision. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for treatment to be optimized and considered effective, periodic assessment with composite disease activity index and a 'treat-to-target' approach is required. The Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) in the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) includes only three measures based on the central patient self-reported dataset and can be used in a 'treat-to-target' approach analogous to the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and the Disease Activity Score 28-joints (DAS28). This tool, however, has not undergone cross-cultural or clinical validation in Brazil. In this research, we performed the MDHAQ cross-cultural and clinical validation for the Brazilian population of RA patients.MethodsThe Portuguese version of the MDHAQ was created identically in an electronic questionnaire and underwent a cross-cultural validation process with 38 participants. Test–retest was performed in 29 patients. Further, a clinical validation with 129 Rheumatoid Arthritis patients was performed. Electronic MDHAQ was answered through an online platform. We also collected socioeconomic data as well as other clinical (CDAI, SDAI, DAS28) and functional (HAQ) scores during the face-to-face assessment of patients.ResultsMDHAQ/RAPID3 maintained semantic, idiomatic, as well as conceptual and experience equivalence for the Brazilian population, with 92% acceptance of participants. It showed test–retest reliability, adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.85) and correlation of the scores obtained with adequate association with the DAS28 gold standard. RAPID3 also had high sensitivity (98%), adequate specificity (48%), high negative predictive value (92%) and negative post-test probability of 8%, attributes expected for a test tool for population screening.ConclusionThe use of MDHAQ/RAPID3 associated with traditional clinical measures can adequately allow for remote follow-up based on the 'treat-to-target' approach with performance comparable to the gold standard DAS28, being a viable tool in the sample of Brazilian patients with RA in the current context of telehealth.

Positive Outcomes of Comprehensive Exercise Program on Restoration of Functional Level and Quality of Life in a Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report

A relatively recurrent inflammatory disease that is autoimmune, affecting the tissue that lines the joints and tendons, is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Genome-wide association research has discovered additional genetic markers. The cornerstones of current RA care strategies include anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, joint protection and energy conservation, exercise, assistive devices, splinting, orthotics, and surgical treatment. Cardiovascular ailment is still the leading cause of mortality, and those with autoimmune diseases are far more likely to have cardiovascular disease. We present a case of RA with a history of hypothyroidism, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. She has also taken Ayurveda treatment panchakarma for the same.Physiotherapy interventions included resistance training and aerobic exercises, which showed appreciable results on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale andMultidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire.

Predictors of Remission and Low Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Results From the Follow-up of a Real-World Peruvian Cohort.

Clinical remission is the goal in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management; however, this can be difficult to achieve in several parts of the world. Our objective was to determine predictors of remission and remission/low disease activity (LDA) in RA. A longitudinal real-setting RA cohort was followed up (January 2016-2020). Predictors examined were sex, age at diagnosis, disease duration, socioeconomic status, tobacco use, rheumatoid factor titer, comorbidities (Charlson index), Simple Disease Activity Index (SDAI) score, disability (Multidimensional Disease Health Assessment Questionnaire), health-related quality of life (Short Form-36 questionnaire), glucocorticoid dose, biological/target synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, and conventional DMARD (c-DMARD) use. Univariable and multivariable generalized estimating equation models were done to determine predictors of remission (at a given visit) and sustained remission (2 consecutives visits), using the SDAI definition (0 or <3.3). Similarly, remission/LDA (SDAI <11) predictors were examined. Five hundred thirty RA patients included the following: 160 patients (30.2%) achieved remission in at least 1 visit, and 126 patients (23.77%) achieved sustained remission. On the multivariable analysis glucocorticoid dose (odds ratio [OR], 1.060; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.027-1.094; p = 0.004) and current (OR, 2.293; 95% CI, 1.811-2.903; p < 0.001) or past (OR, 1.383; 95% CI, 1.127-1.698; p = 0.002) use of c-DMARDs predicted remission/LDA in at least 1 visit, whereas the SDAI (OR, 0.951; 95% CI, 0.942-0.959; p < 0.001), Multidimensional Disease Health Assessment Questionnaire (OR, 0.648; 95% CI, 0.549-0.764; p < 0.001), and age at diagnosis (OR, 0.994; 95% CI, 0.990-0.998; p = 0.004) were negative predictors. As to sustained remission/LDA, current (OR, 2.012; 95% CI, 1.458-2.776: p < 0.001) or past (OR, 1.517; 95% CI, 1.155-1.993; p = 0.003) use of c-DMARDs, having a better Short Form-36 questionnaire physical component summary (OR, 1.022; 95% CI, 1.014-1.029; p < 0.001), and older age at diagnosis (OR, 1.013; 95% CI, 1.003-1.022; p = 0.008) predicted it, whereas SDAI (OR, 0.949; 95% CI, 0.933-0.965; p < 0.001) and medium low/low socioeconomic status (OR, 0.674; 95% CI, 0.500-0.909; p = 0.010) were negative predictors. During follow-up of this real-world RA cohort, c-DMARD use predicted remission and remission/LDA. In contrast, disease activity was a negative predictor.

The impact of disease severity measures on survival in U.S. veterans with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

To determine whether RA and interstitial lung disease (ILD) severity measures are associated with survival in patients with RA-ILD. We studied US veterans with RA-ILD participating in a multicentre, prospective RA cohort study. RA disease activity (28-joint DAS [DAS28-ESR]) and functional status (multidimensional HAQ [MDHAQ]) were collected longitudinally while pulmonary function tests (forced vital capacity [FVC], diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide) were obtained from medical records. Vital status and cause of death were determined from the National Death Index and administrative data. Predictors of death were assessed using multivariable Cox regression models adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, ILD duration, comorbidity burden and medications. We followed 227 RA-ILD participants (93% male and mean age of 69 years) over 1073 person-years. Median survival after RA-ILD diagnosis was 8.5 years. Respiratory diseases (28%) were the leading cause of death, with ILD accounting for 58% of respiratory deaths. Time-varying DAS28-ESR (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.21; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.41) and MDHAQ (aHR 1.85; 95% CI: 1.29, 2.65) were separately associated with mortality independent of FVC and other confounders. Modelled together, the presence of either uncontrolled disease activity (moderate/high DAS28-ESR) or FVC impairment (<80% predicted) was significantly associated with mortality risk. Those with a combination of moderate/high disease activity and FVC <80% predicted had the highest risk of death (aHR 4.43; 95% CI: 1.70, 11.55). Both RA and ILD disease severity measures are independent predictors of survival in RA-ILD. These findings demonstrate the prognostic value of monitoring the systemic features of RA-ILD.

Scale Banking for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures That Measure Functioning in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Daily Activities Metric.

Functioning is an important outcome for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Heterogeneity of respective patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) challenges direct comparisons between their results. This study aimed to standardize reporting of such PROMs measuring functioning in RA to facilitate comparability. Common-item nonequivalent group design with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) as a common scale across data sets from various countries (including the UK, Turkey, and Germany) to establish a common metric was used. Other PROMs included are the physical function items of the Multidimensional HAQ (MDHAQ), the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II), the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey, and 4 short forms (20, 10, 6, and 4 physical function items) from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. As the HAQ includes mobility, self-care, and domestic life items, this study focuses on these 3 domains. PROMs were described using standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable difference (SDD). A Rasch measurement model was used to create the common metric. The range of the SEM was 0.2 (MDHAQ) to 7.4 (SF-36 health survey physical functioning domain). The SDD revealed a range from 9.7% (WOMAC rating scale) to 33.5% (WHODAS physical functioning domain). PROMs co-calibration revealed fit to the Rasch measurement model. A transformation table was developed to allow exchange between PROM scores. Scores between the daily activity PROMs commonly used in RA can now be compared. Factors such as SEM and SDD help to determine the choice of a PROM in clinical practice and research.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Functional Status in a National Sample of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Little is known about the association of poverty with functional status (FS) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who use rheumatology care. To examine the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and FS among patients with RA and to evaluate the association between SES and functional declines over time in patients who received at least some rheumatology care. This cohort study used data from the American College of Rheumatology's Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) registry between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018. Analyses included all adult patients with a confirmed RA diagnosis (ie, had ≥2 encounters associated with RA International Classification of Diseases codes ≥30 days apart) and at least 1 FS score documented between 2016 and 2018 seen at participating rheumatology practices. Data analysis was conducted from April to December 2020. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a zip code-based indicator of neighborhood poverty, was used as a proxy for SES. ADI scores were categorized into quintiles. FS measures included Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability index, and Health Assessment Questionnaire-II. Cross-sectionally, mean FS scores were compared across ADI quintiles. Longitudinally, among patients with at least 2 FS scores, multilevel multivariate regression computed the probability of functional decline, defined as a change greater than the minimum clinically important difference, across ADI quintiles. In a subgroup analysis, whether disease activity mediated the association between SES and functional decline was examined. Of the 83 965 patients included in the study, 66 649 (77%) were women, and 60 037 (72%) were non-Hispanic White. Mean (SD) age was 63.4 (13.7) years. MDHAQ was the most reported FS measure (56 928 patients [67.8%]). For all measures, mean (SD) FS score was worse at lower SES levels (eg, for MDHAQ quintile 1: 1.79 [1.87]; quintile 5: 2.43 [2.17]). In longitudinal analyses, the probability of functional decline was 14.1% (95% CI, 12.5%-15.7%) in the highest SES quintile and 18.9% (95% CI, 17.1%-20.7%) in the lowest SES quintile. The association between SES and functional decline was partially mediated (7%; 95% CI, 4%-22%) by disease activity. In this cohort study of patients with RA, worse FS and faster declines in functioning over time were observed in patients with lower SES. These findings provide a framework for monitoring disparities in RA and for generating evidence to spur action toward achieving health equity.

Predictors of hospitalization for COVID-19 in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases: results from a community cohort follow-up.

ObjectiveThe identification of risk factors for COVID-19 adverse course in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) is of the utmost importance when approaching patient management; however, data are scarce in relation to the Latin American population. The objective of this study was to determine predictors of hospitalization for COVID-19 patients from an ARD community cohort.MethodsA real setting longitudinal study (March to November 2020) in an ARD community cohort was carried out. Potential predictors of hospitalization for COVID-19 examined included (1) sociodemographic variables (age, gender, education, tobacco use, socioeconomic status, and co-inhabitants), (2) comorbidities, (3) time to COVID-19 diagnosis, and (4) ARD’s features: clinical (disease type, disease duration, activity), treatment [corticosteroids use/doses, use of synthetic DMARDs (cDMARDs, tsDMARDs, and bDMARDs)], treatment schedule and non-adherence, and the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ). Univariable and multivariable regression analysis were conducted; OR and 95% CI (p < 0.05) were determined.ResultsOne thousand and one hundred forty-eight patients with ARDs were included; 154 had COVID-19; of these 139 (90.3%) were women, aged 52.5 (13.7) years; 33.1% had hypertension and 61.0% an affected organ by ARD. Infection was detected 8.4 (10.1) days after symptoms started; there were 33 hospitalized patients (rate 21.4%). Predictors of hospitalization by multivariable analysis were age (OR: 1.06; CI: 1.01–1.10; p: 0.01), comorbidities: hypertension (OR: 3.95; 95% CI: 1.40–10.95, p: 0.01) and neoplasm (OR: 9.0; 95% CI: 1.6–52.3; p: 0.01), number of organs involved by ARD (OR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.16–4.41; p: 0.02), and infection diagnosis delay (OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.03–1.80; p: 0.01).ConclusionsIn our ARD patients with COVID-19, older age, comorbidities (neoplasm and hypertension), and a delay in COVID-19 diagnosis were predictors of hospitalization. The only ARD-associated predictor feature was the number of organs involved.Key Points• Patients with ARD and COVID-19 have an adverse course in comparison to the general population.• Previous predictors of COVID-19 hospitalization, including known risk factors (such as older age and comorbidities) and systemic manifestations, should be taken into account in the management of these patients.• Delayed diagnosis of COVID-19 impacts negatively on prognosis.• Availability of diagnostic tests is of utmost importance.

Effect of Physical Activity on Pain and Functional Abilities in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis at an Autoimmune Clinic in Accra, Ghana

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic disease that affects the joints, connective tissues, tendons, and fibrous tissues. Despite early interventions, there is significant activity limitation due to moderate and high pain intensities in majority of affected individuals.The study set out to determine the effect of physical activity on pain and functional ability among rheumatoid arthritis patients.Methods:A pre-test, post-test quasi experimental study conducted among 60 rheumatoid arthritis patients (divided into intervention and control groups) were recruited from the Autoimmune clinic of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for this quasi-experimental study. The international physical activity questionnaire, multidimensional health assessment questionnaire and numerical pain rating scale were used to obtain data. Pedometers and a stationary cycle were used for physical activity (intervention). Paired t-test was used to compare outcomes between the level of physical activity in relation to pain and functional ability and outcomes between pre and post functional abilities at a 0.05 level of significance.Results: Majority 24 (80.0%) of participants from the intervention group reported low, while 6 (20.0%) reported moderate physical activity levels. Thirteen (43.4%) and 10 (33.3%) participants from the intervention and control groups reported moderate pain on NPRS before intervention, which reduced to 7 (23.3%) in the intervention group, as compared to 9 (30%) in the control group. There was a significant difference (p&lt;0.05) for functional ability among the intervention group before and after the intervention programmes but no significant differences (p&gt;0.05) for most domains of functional ability except health concern (p = 0.034) among the control group.Conclusion: Patients with RA have a relatively low physical activity level but benefit significantly from a moderate intensity aerobic exercises such as cycling and walking by improving pain levels, functional ability and general health.Clinicians should promote and encourage patients with RA to engage in physical and recreational activities.

Measuring Physical Function in Psoriatic Arthritis: Comparing the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire to the Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index

To compare physical function scales of the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) with that of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and to examine whether either questionnaire is less prone to "floor effects." Data were collected prospectively from 2018 to 2019 across 3 UK hospitals. All patients completed physical function scales within the MDHAQ and HAQ-DI in a single clinic visit. Agreement was assessed using medians and the Bland-Altman method. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess test-retest reliability. Two hundred ten patients completed the clinic visit; 1 withdrew consent. Thus, 209 were analyzed. Sixty percent were male, with mean age of 51.7 years and median disease duration of 7 years. In clinic, median MDHAQ and HAQ-DI including/excluding aids scores were 0.30, 0.50, and 0.50 respectively. Although the median score for HAQ-DI was higher than for MDHAQ, the difference between the 2 scores was mostly within 1.96 SDs from the mean, suggesting good agreement. The ICCs demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability for both the MDHAQ and HAQ-DI. Similar numbers of patients scored 0 on the MDHAQ and HAQ-DI including/excluding aids (48, 47, and 49, respectively). Using a score of ≤ 0.5 as a cutoff for minor functional impairment, 23 patients had a MDHAQ ≤ 0.5 when their HAQ-DI including aids was > 0.5. Conversely, 4 patients had a MDHAQ > 0.5 when the HAQ-DI including aids was ≤ 0.5. Both the MDHAQ and HAQ-DI appear to be similar in detecting floor effects in patients with PsA.

Lifestyle and Clinical Risk Factors for Incident Rheumatoid Arthritis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

To determine the association between novel lifestyle factors on risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD), define the threshold at which smoking increases RA-ILD risk, and calculate the degree to which known lifestyle and clinical factors predict RA-ILD. This nested case-control study matched incident RA-ILD cases to RA non-ILD controls on age, sex, RA duration, rheumatoid factor, and time from exposure assessment to RA-ILD. Exposures included education, BMI, smoking, anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, race, joint erosions, rheumatoid nodules, C-reactive protein (CRP), disease activity score, functional status, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use, and glucocorticoid use. OR for each exposure on risk of RA-ILD were obtained from logistic regression models. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated based on all lifestyle and clinical exposures. We identified 84 incident RA-ILD cases and 233 matched controls. After adjustment, obesity, high-positive CRP (≥ 10 mg/L), and poor functional status (multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire [MDHAQ] ≥ 1) were associated with increased risk of RA-ILD (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.11-5.24 vs normal BMI; OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.21-5.64 vs CRP < 3 mg/L; OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.32-7.26 vs MDHAQ < 0.2). Smoking 30 pack-years or more was strongly associated with risk of RA-ILD compared to never smokers (OR 6.06, 95% CI 2.72-13.5). Together, lifestyle and clinical risk factors for RA-ILD had an AUC of 0.79 (95% CI 0.73-0.85). Obesity, CRP, functional status, and extensive smoking may be novel risk factors for RA-ILD that may be useful for RA-ILD risk assessment and prevention. The overall ability to predict RA-ILD remains modest.

Identifying co-morbid fibromyalgia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus using the Multi-Dimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is prevalent but often under-recognized in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from the Multi-Dimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) can identify co-morbid FM in patients with rheumatic diseases. The present study examined the utility of the MDHAQ in recognizing FM in patients with SLE during routine consultations. Patients with SLE completed an MDHAQ. FM status was determined by the validated 2016 revision of the ACR 2010/2011 preliminary FM criteria. Individual PROs from the MDHAQ and composite Fibromyalgia Assessment Tool (FAST) indices of the discriminatory PROs were compared between patients with and without FM using Student's unpaired t-test and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to determine the area under the curve (AUC). The physician's clinical impression of FM was recorded, and the SLE Disease Activity Index was used to assess disease activity. Of 88 patients with SLE, 23 (26%) satisfied the 2016 FM criteria. The FAST3 composite measure of two out of three of pain (≥6/10), joint count (≥16/48) and symptom checklist (≥16/60) correctly classified 89% of patients (AUC=0.90, kappa=0.71). Physician diagnosis demonstrated moderate agreement with the 2016 FM criteria (kappa=0.43) but missed 43% of patients with FM. In the presence of active disease, the FAST3 correctly classified 91% of patients. Co-morbid FM is prevalent in SLE yet often underdiagnosed by physicians. The simple FAST3 index of the MDHAQ provides an easy-to-use self-reported tool to improve identification of FM in patients with SLE.

FRI0586 HOW TO GET FROM THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE TO STANFORD HEALTH ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE DISABILITY INDEX SCORES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS AND AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS: DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A CONVERSION ALGORITHM

Background:In the DANBIO quality registry in Denmark, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) have reported Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) including the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) for nearly twenty years as part of routine care. Patients’ feedback have stressed a need for a shorter registration of disability (1). While the shorter Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) is preferred by patients, the original HAQ-DI is the preferred tool in observational studies. Thus, a conversion algorithm between the MDHAQ and HAQ-DI scores is warranted.Objectives:To develop and validate a simple conversion algorithm between MDHAQ and HAQ-DI scores in RA, PsA and axSpA patients.Methods:Patients registered in DANBIO with a diagnosis of RA, PsA or axSpA who had completed both HAQ-DI and MDHAQ simultaneously at a visit +/- 30 days from start of conventional synthetic (cs)DMARD or biological (b)DMARD were eligible for the analysis, and randomly divided into development and validation cohorts stratified by diagnosis. The conversion algorithm was developed in the RA development cohort using linear regression with HAQ-DI as the dependent variable and MDHAQ as the independent variable. The predicted HAQ (pHAQ) scores were then calculated by applying the conversion algorithm to the MDHAQ scores in the RA, PsA and axSpA validation cohorts. The pHAQ was validated against the HAQ-DI in the validation cohorts regarding criterion, correlational and construct validity.Results:We included 8983/4410/1760 patients with RA/PsA/axSpA, respectively. The conversion algorithm pHAQ=0.15+MDHAQ*1.08 had the best fit (R2=0.83) in the RA development cohort.Criterion validity: The correlation coefficients between HAQ-DI/pHAQ and patient global score at baseline were 0.66/0.65. In groups of patients with high and low disability (defined as patient global score ≥50), standardized mean difference was -1.4 for HAQ-DI, and -1.4 for pHAQ.Correlational validity: Correlation coefficients between HAQ-DI/pHAQ and ΔHAQ-DI/ΔpHAQ between baseline and first follow-up visit were r=0.91 and r=0.87, respectively. Correlation coefficients between HAQ-DI/pHAQ and pain score, DAS28CRP and physician global score were 0.63/0.64, 0.55/0.55 and 0.34/0.34, respectively. A Bland-Altman plot showed good agreement of HAQ-DI and pHAQ across all functional states.Construct validity: HAQ-DI/pHAQ at the first follow-up visit after baseline was comparable between Patient Acceptable Symptom State groups (PASS=No: mean 1.17 vs 1.18/PASS=Yes: 0.55 vs 0.60). Similar results were seen for the external anchor (Figure 1).In PsA and axSpA validation cohorts, similar results were found.Conclusion:A conversion algorithm from MDHAQ to HAQ-DI was developed in ≈ 4500 RA patients. In separate large validation cohorts of RA, PsA and axSpA patients, the predicted HAQ calculated from the MDHAQ scores showed good criterion, correlational and construct validity comparable to the original HAQ-DI. The results suggest that for research purposes the MDHAQ can be converted to HAQ-DI if a full HAQ-DI has not been performed.

Reliability, Feasibility, and Patient Acceptance of an Electronic Version of a Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire for Routine Rheumatology Care: Validation and Patient Preference Study.

BackgroundA multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) that was developed primarily for routine rheumatology care has advanced clinical research concerning disease burden, disability, and mortality in rheumatic diseases. Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3), an index within the MDHAQ, is the most widely used index to assess rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical care in the United States, and it recognizes clinical status changes in all studied rheumatic diseases. MDHAQ physical function scores are far more significant in the prognosis of premature RA mortality than laboratory or imaging data. However, electronic medical records (EMRs) generally do not include patient questionnaires. An electronic MDHAQ (eMDHAQ), linked by fast healthcare interoperability resources (FIHR) to an EMR, can facilitate clinical and research advances.ObjectiveThis study analyzed the reliability, feasibility, and patient acceptance of an eMDHAQ.MethodsSince 2006, all Rush University Medical Center rheumatology patients with all diagnoses have been asked to complete a paper MDHAQ at each routine care encounter. In April 2019, patients were invited to complete an eMDHAQ at the conclusion of the encounter. Analyses were conducted to determine the reliability of eMDHAQ versus paper MDHAQ scores, arithmetically and by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The feasibility of the eMDHAQ was analyzed based on the time for patient completion. The patient preference for the electronic or paper version was analyzed through a patient paper questionnaire.ResultsThe 98 study patients were a typical routine rheumatology patient group. Seven paper versus eMDHAQ scores were within 2%, differences neither clinically nor statistically significant. ICCs of 0.86-0.98 also indicated good to excellent reliability. Mean eMDHAQ completion time was a feasible 8.2 minutes. The eMDHAQ was preferred by 72% of patients; preferences were similar according to age and educational level.ConclusionsThe results on a paper MDHAQ versus eMDHAQ were similar. Most patients preferred an eMDHAQ.

Sex-Based Differences in the Cytokine Production and Intracellular Signaling Pathways in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objectives This study aims to investigate lymphoproliferation, cytokine production, and intracellular signaling molecules in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from healthy individuals and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to understand the extent of the involvement of these pathways in the pathogenesis of RA.Patients and methods The study included 65 participants (29 males, 36 females; mean age 51.8±10.3 years; range, 37 to 71 years) who were categorized into four groups as healthy males (n=22, mean age 49.8±10.6 years; range, 39 to 65 years), male RA patients (n=7, mean age 51.8±13.9 years; range, 37 to 68 years), healthy females (n=20, mean age 53.7±8.8 years; range, 42 to 67 years), and female RA patients (n=16, mean age 52.9±10.4 years; range, 40 to 71 years). PBMCs were collected from the participants and analyzed for Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced lymphoproliferation using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, cytokine production, and phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT-3), phospho-extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), phospho-cAMP response element binding (p-CREB), and phospho-protein kinase B expressions using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Short form of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 and multidimensional health assessment questionnaire were used to measure the level of disability and the quality of life.Results In RA patients, production of Con A-induced interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-17 was higher in both sexes while interferon-gamma levels decreased in RA females alone. Expression of p-STAT-3 in PBMCs increased in RA males while it was unaltered in RA females. p-ERK expression was not altered while p-CREB expression was enhanced in RA males and females. Protein-protein interaction analyses demonstrated that these and other key signaling molecules were dysregulated in RA patients.Conclusion Our results suggest that sex-based differences in RA pathogenesis result from differential alterations in signaling pathways to influence the inflammatory process.

EP41 The Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) and the Heath Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQDI): a comparison in patients with psoriatic arthritis

Abstract Background We compared the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQDI) and the simpler Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and examined whether either questionnaires are less prone to ‘floor effects’, whereby patients report normal scores despite experiencing functional impairment. Methods Data were collected prospectively across three UK hospital trusts from 2018-2019. All patients completed the MDHAQ, HAQDI and PsA Impact of Disease Questionnaire (PsAID) in a single clinic visit. A subset were given an identical pack to complete one week later. The HAQ questionnaires are scored from 0-3, and the PsAID is scored from 0-10. The PsAID has a validated patient acceptable symptom state (PsAID≤4) to stratify high-impact and low-impact disease. Mean with standard deviation (S.D.) was calculated and variability was assessed using the Bland-Altman method. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC, two-way mixed model absolute agreement) was used to assess test-retest reliability. Using pilot data, we calculated that 210 patients were required to detect non-inferiority between the HAQ questionnaires, with a 0.125 margin at a two-sided 0.025 significance level with &amp;gt; 90% power. All analyses were performed using R. This study was approved by London-Surrey Research Ethics Committee. Results 210 patients completed the study; one withdrew consent thus 209 were analysed. 62 patients completed the questionnaires one week later. 60.0% were male, mean age was 51.7 years, and median PsA duration was 7.0 years. In clinic, mean (S.D.) scores on the MDHAQ, HAQDI including/excluding aids, and PsAID were 0.58 (0.64), 0.79 (0.78), 0.70 (0.73), and 3.71 (2.70), respectively. The mean HAQDI tends to be higher than the MDHAQ, for both high and low-impact disease. However, the difference between the two mostly lies within 1.96 S.D. of the mean using the Bland-Altman method, suggesting reasonable agreement. Comparing clinic and 1-week scores, the ICCs for the MDHAQ, HAQDI including/excluding aids, and PsAID were 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.98), 0.98 (0.97-0.99), 0.98 (0.96-0.99), and 0.96 (0.93-0.97) respectively, suggesting excellent test-retest reliability. Patients scoring ‘0’ in MDHAQ and HAQDI including/excluding aids were similar (48, 47, 49). Using a score of ≤ 0.5 for low functional impairment, 23 patients had a MDHAQ ≤ 0.5 when their HAQDI including aids &amp;gt; 0.5. This reduced to 17 when using HAQDI excluding aids &amp;gt; 0.5. In contrast, 4 patients had a HAQDI including aids ≤ 0.5 when MDHAQ &amp;gt; 0.5. This increased to 5 patients when using HAQDI excluding aids ≤ 5. Collectively, this suggests the HAQDI is less prone to floor effects compared to the MDHAQ, especially when the score incorporates aids. Conclusion The MDHAQ and HAQDI scores show test-retest reliability and reasonable agreement in patients with PsA. Although the MDHAQ is quicker for patients to complete, it appears more prone to floor effects. Disclosures: W. Ye: None. S. Hackett: None. C. Vandevelde: None. S. Twigg: None. L.C. Coates: None.

P277 Assessment of disease activity using RAPID3 and evaluation of treatment effect of guselkumab in patients with PsA: results from a randomised placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial

Abstract Background To evaluate the effect of guselkumab (GUS) on Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods In a Phase 2 trial, patients with active PsA and ≥3% body surface area of plaque psoriasis despite current or previous treatment with standard-of-care therapies, including anti-TNFα agents, were randomized 2:1 to receive GUS 100 mg (n = 100) or placebo (PBO, n = 49) subcutaneously at weeks 0, 4, and every 8 weeks (q8w) thereafter through W44. At W16, patients from either group with &amp;lt;5% improvement from baseline in both swollen and tender joint counts were eligible for early escape to open label ustekinumab. At W24, all remaining PBO patients crossed over to receive GUS 100 mg, and then received GUS at W28 and q8w thereafter through W44. RAPID3 (0-30) is derived from the Multi-Dimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) and numerical rating scales (0-10) for pain and patient global assessment. A change of 5.1 in RAPID3 score was identified as the minimally important difference (MID) in PsA, and RAPID3 ≤3.0 was used to define PsA remission. Change in RAPID3 and proportion of patients achieving MID were compared between treatments. Correlations of RAPID3 scores with the PsA Disease Activity Score (PASDAS), GRACE index, Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), and Modified Composite Psoriatic Disease Activity Index (mCPDAI) were evaluated using Spearman correlation. Results The mean (SD) RAPID3 score at baseline was 16.9 (5.19). At W24, patients in the GUS group (n = 100) achieved statistically significantly greater decrease from baseline (improvement) in RAPID3 (-5.81 ± 6.0) than the PBO group (n = 49) (-0.57 ± 5.1, p &amp;lt; 0.001), and 50% of patients in the GUS group vs 20.4% in the PBO group achieved an MID (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Higher RAPID3 remission rate in the GUS than the PBO group (14.0% vs 2.4%, p = 0.022) was observed. The mean ± SD decrease from baseline in RAPID3 was -6.36 ± 6.2 at W24, and -7.48 ± 6.3 at W44 in those who continued GUS (n = 86). Among patients who switched from PBO to GUS at W24 (n = 28), mean ± SD change from baseline (improvement) in RAPID3 was -2.28 ± 5.2 at W24 while on placebo and -7.60 ± 6.6 at W44 after switching to GUS. The RAPID3 score was highly correlated with PASDAS (r = 0.84, p &amp;lt; 0.001), GRACE index (r = 0.89, p &amp;lt; 0.001), DAPSA (r = 0.77 p &amp;lt; 0.001) and mCPDAI (r = 0.65, p &amp;lt; 0.001) at W16. Conclusion GUS-treated PsA patients demonstrated significant improvement in RAPID3 compared to PBO. RAPID3 is simple and feasible to use in routine clinical care, and it correlates well with other comprehensive PsA-specific disease activity measures. Disclosures A. Deodhar: Other; A.D. has been a study investigator for Janssen. B. Kirkham: Other; B.K. has been a study investigator for Janssen. P. Rahman: Other; P.R. has been a study investigator for Janssen. P. Helliwell: Other; P.H. has been a study investigator for Janssen. A.B. Gottlieb: Other; A.G. has been a study investigator for Janssen. W. Boehncke: Other; W.B. has been a study investigator for Janssen. X.L. Xu: Other; X.X. is a Janssen employee. P.C. Gorecki: Other; P.G. is a Janssen employee. C. Han: Other; C.H. is a Janssen employee.

Assessing Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity With Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Measures Using Digital Technology.

Health information technology has enabled efficient measurement of patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The National Institutes of Health Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is becoming more widely adopted for research and routine care, and some PROMIS instruments might be substituted for lengthier, legacy PRO instruments. Four PROMIS computer-adaptive testing (CAT) instruments (pain interference, physical function, sleep disturbance, and fatigue) and the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3), along with pain intensity and patient global assessment score, were administered to participants in the ArthritisPower registry. The RAPID3 was predicted using different combinations of these variables to create a new score (CAT-PROMIS RAPID3). Kappa statistics and Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement were used to measure agreement between the observed versus predicted RAPID3. A total of 6,154 eligible patients contributed 11,275 observations. The mean ± SD age was 52.7 ± 10.5years, and 93% of patients were women. The median assessment times ranged from 29 seconds (PROMIS sleep disturbance) to 116 seconds (RAPID3). As single pairwise comparisons, the PROMIS CATs examined were modestly correlated (r approximately 0.4-0.7) to one other and RAPID3. Together with the pain intensity and patient global assessment, the PROMIS instruments explained a high fraction of total variance (R2 = 0.97) of the RAPID3 score. In the model with the highest agreement (κ = 0.93) between the observed RAPID3 and the CAT-PROMIS predicted RAPID3, Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement showed minimal residual differences and no systematic biases. There was excellent agreement between the observed RAPID3 and predicted RAPID3 scores estimated using several PROMIS instruments. The Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire and patient global assessment components of RAPID3 may be unnecessary if PROMIS scores are available.

Racial disparities in pre-operative pain, function and disease activity for patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing Total knee or Total hip Arthroplasty: a New York based study

BackgroundBlack and Hispanic patients with osteoarthritis have more pain and worse function than Whites at the time of arthroplasty. Whether this is true for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unknown.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data on RA patients acquired between October 2013 and November 2018 prior to elective total knee (TKA) or hip arthroplasty (THA). Pain, function, and disease activity were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ), and the Disease Activity Score (DAS28-ESR). We linked the cases to census tracts using geocoding to determine the community poverty level. Race, education, income, insurance and medications were collected via self-report. Using multivariable linear and logistic models we examined whether minority status predicted pain, function and RA disease activity at the time of arthroplasty.ResultsThirty seven (23%) of the 164 patients were Black or Hispanic (minorities). The MDHAQ and DAS28-ESR were not significantly worse while VAS pain score was significantly worse in minority patients (p = 0.03). There was no significant difference in education between the groups. Insurance varied significantly; 29% of minority patients had Medicaid vs. 0% of Whites (p < 0.0001). In the multivariable analyses minority status was not significantly associated with DAS28-ESR [p = 0.66], MDHAQ [p = 0.26], or VAS pain [p = 0.18].ConclusionsFor Black and/or Hispanic patients with RA undergoing THA or TKA at a high-volume specialty hospital, unlike Black or Hispanic patients with osteoarthritis (OA), there was no association with worse pain, function, or RA disease activity at the time of elective arthroplasty.