Provisional classification criteria for PMR scoring algorithm
| Feature | Points without ultrasound (0–6) | Points with ultrasound (0–8) |
| Morning stiffness lasting >45 min | 2 | 2 |
| Hip pain or limited range of motion | 1 | 1 |
| Absence of RF or ACPA | 2 | 2 |
| Absence of other joint involvement | 1 | 1 |
| ≥1 shoulder with subdeltoid bursitis and/or biceps tenosynovitis and/or glenohumeral synovitis and ≥1 hip with synovitis and/or trochanteric bursitis | n/a | 1 |
| Both shoulders with subdeltoid bursitis, biceps tenosynovitis or glenohumeral synovitis | n/a | 1 |
Required to apply algorithm: age ≥50 years, bilateral shoulder aching and abnormal C reactive protein (CRP) and/or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
A score ≥4 is categorised as PMR without ultrasound and a score of ≥5 is categorised as PMR if ultrasound findings are included.
ACPA, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody; PMR, polymyalgia rheumatica; RF, rheumatoid factor.