Development of a disease activity score based on judgment in clinical practice by rheumatologists

J Rheumatol. 1993 Mar;20(3):579-81.

Abstract

In a prospective study of up to 3 years' duration of 113 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis a disease activity score (DAS) was developed based on the clinical judgment of 6 rheumatologists. The patients were divided in groups with high and low disease activity according to explicit rules. By various statistical methods, including discriminant analysis and multiple regression analysis, a DAS could be defined. This DAS is a continuous measure consisting of the variables Ritchie articular index, number of swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and general health measured on a visual analog scale.

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / epidemiology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / pathology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / physiopathology
  • Blood Sedimentation
  • Humans
  • Joints / pathology
  • Joints / physiopathology
  • Judgment*
  • Pain
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Regression Analysis
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Statistics as Topic