ABSTRACT
Objective: To analyze the correlation between functional disability score and clinical status, laboratory findings and radiographic scores in early rheumatoid arthritis patients
Methods: Forty rheumatoid arthritis patients of less than one year duration and diagnosed according to the ACR [1987] revised criteria were subjected to: [a] Functional assessment by Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 questionnaire [AIMSZ], [b] Pain assessment by visual analogue scale [VAS], [c] Tenderness and swelling assessment according to 28-j0int count measuring tender and swollen joints, [d] Disease Activity by Modified Disease Activity score [DAS], [e] Laboratory assessment i.e. ESR, CRP and RF and [f] Radiological assessment in which hand and feet radiographs were scored for erosions using the method developed by Rau et al. [1998]
Results: There was a significant correlation between functional disability score and CRP, VAS, and radiographic score
Conclusion: In this study we have observed that a clinically important association exists between functional disability, disease activity, and radiographic damage, suggesting that intervention that suppresses disease activity and slow down radiographic progression may improve the patients health status