Disability measured by the modified health assessment questionnaire in early rheumatoid arthritis: prognostic factors after two years of follow-up

Objective To analyze the rate and baseline prognostic factors of disability measured by the modified HAQ (MHAQ), in a series of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after two years of therapy with a structured algorithm using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Methods One hundred and five patients (81 % female) with early RA (disease duration 0.5, DAS28>5.1, VAS pain, positive rheumatoid factor and ESR at baseline were associated with disability in the univariate analysis. In the logistic regression analysis, only age (OR: 1.058, 95%CI 1.017; 1.101 p 0.5 (OR:4.023, 95%CI 1.373; 11.783, p 0) at two years. Conclusion In a series of early RA patients treated with a structured algorithm using DMARDs and very low doses of glucocorticoids, no disability was observed in a quarter of patients after two years. Age, rheumatoid factor positivity and MHAQ>0.5 were independent predictors of disability at two years.