Changes in priorities for improvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during 1 year of anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To examine priorities for health status improvement in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) treatment.

Methods

Data were used from 173 patients with RA starting treatment with TNF-blocking agents. Outcome measures included assessment of health status with the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 (AIMS2) at baseline and after 3 and 12 months. The AIMS2 contains a priority list from which patients are asked to select from 12 areas of health the 3 in which they would most like to see improvement.

Results

After 1 year of treatment, 10 out of 12 areas of health on the AIMS2 were significantly improved. The most commonly selected priorities for improvement at baseline were pain (88%), hand and finger function (5

SUBMITTER: ten Klooster PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2111636 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature