Use of a "critical difference" statistical criterion improves the predictive utility of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index score in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) is used to assess functional status in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the change required for meaningful improvements remains unclear. A minimum clinically important difference (MCID) of 0.22 is frequently used in RA trials. The aim of this study was to determine a statistically defined critical difference for HAQ-DI (HAQ-DI-d_crit) and evaluate its association with therapeutic outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from adult German patients with RA enrolled in a multicenter observational trial in which they received adalimumab therapy at the decision of the treating clinician during routine clinical care. The HAQ-DI-d_crit, defined as the minimum change that can be reli

SUBMITTER: Behrens F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6902502 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature