Change in flare question scores and other RA indicators in patients previously in remission/low disease activity
| Patient flare* | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic (mean SD) | Yes N=58 | No N=302 | Difference (95% CI)/p value | Patient and MD flare N=28 | Patient and MD no flare N=219 | Difference (95% CI)/p value |
| OMERACT flare domain questions (0–10) | ||||||
| Pain | 1.7 (2.4) | −0.4 (1.8) | 2.0 (1.4 to 2.7) | 2.3 (2.6) | −0.5 (1.7) | 2.7 (1.7 to 3.8) |
| Stiffness | 1.3 (3.0) | −0.3 (1.7) | 1.6 (0.8 to 2.4) | 2.1 (3.1) | −0.4 (1.7) | 2.5 (1.3 to 3.7) |
| Function | 1.6 (2.7) | −0.3 (1.9) | 1.9 (1.2 to 2.6) | 1.8 (2.7) | −0.4 (1.8) | 2.2 (1.1 to 3.2) |
| Fatigue | 0.6 (3.1) | −0.3 (2.1) | 0.9 (0.1 to 1.8) | 1.6 (3.0) | −0.5 (1.9) | 2.1 (0.9 to 3.3) |
| Participation | 1.5 (2.7) | −0.3 (1.8) | 1.8 (1.1 to 2.5) | 1.8 (2.7) | −0.4 (1.6) | 2.2 (1.1 to 3.3) |
| Patient global | 1.9 (3.0) | −0.3 (2.1) | 2.2 (1.3 to 3.0) | 2.6 (2.8) | −0.3 (2.2) | 3.0 (2.1 to 3.9) |
| Physician measures | ||||||
| MD global (0–10) | 1.2 (2.3) | −0.1 (1.3) | 1.3 (0.7 to 2.0) | 2.7 (2.1) | −0.3 (1.2) | 3.0 (2.1 to 3.8) |
| MD TJC28* | 2.8 (4.5) | 0.3 (2.4) | 2.4 (1.2 to 3.7) | 4.8 (5.5) | 0.2 (1.9) | 4.6 (2.4 to 6.7) |
| MD SJC28† | 1.6 (4.0) | 0.0 (1.4) | 1.6 (0.5 to 2.7) | 3.4 (5.0) | −0.1 (1.2) | 3.6 (1.6 to 5.5) |
| Acute-phase reactants | ||||||
| CRP (mg/L) | 3.0 (11.0) | 0.1 (5.9) | 2.9 (−0.2 to 6.1) | 5.8 (15.0) | −0.1 (5.6) | 5.9 (−0.4 to 12.1) |
| ESR (mm/h) | 4.3 (11.6) | 0.6 (8.7) | 3.7 (0.4 to 7.0) | 6.3 (14.1) | 0.4 (8.5) | 5.9 (0.2 to 11.5) |
| RA transition (since previous visit) (n (%)) | ||||||
| Much worse/worse | 9 (16%) | 5 (2%) | <0.0001 | 6 (21%) | 3 (1%) | <0.0001 |
| Slightly worse/same/slightly better | 41 (71%) | 179 (59%) | 22 (79%) | 128 (58%) | ||
| Better/much better | 8 (14%) | 118 (39%) | 0 (0%) | 88 (40%) | ||
*Tender joint count.
†Swollen joint count.
CRP, C reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; OMERACT, Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.