OBJECTIVE: We used a variety of health status measures in 2 groups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to assess both the smallest distinguishable difference and the relative responsiveness to change of these measures, when used in clinical practice. METHODS: Two groups of patients were studied. Group 1: 24 patients with stable RA tested on 2 occasions; Group 2: 60 patients receiving methotrexate tested before and 14 weeks after treatment with infliximab. Assessments were made with self-completed questionnaires: the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 [SF-36 (SF-6D)], EuroQol, and, in some, the standard gamble. Group 2 also had joint counts, and measures of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and hemoglobin. RESULTS: The limits-of-agreement (Bland-Altman) approach had greater confidence intervals (CI) than did CI based on +/- 2 standard errors of the measurement. Improvement with infliximab could be determined with all measures, however, but the standard gamble seemed least responsive to change. CONCLUSION: The various measures had different degrees of responsiveness, but with all it was possible to show improvement in Group 2 compared to Group 1. There was a closer association of the patient centered measures of improvement with changes in pain score than with joint counts.
OBJECTIVE: We used a variety of health status measures in 2 groups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to assess both the smallest distinguishable difference and the relative responsiveness to change of these measures, when used in clinical practice. METHODS: Two groups of patients were studied. Group 1: 24 patients with stable RA tested on 2 occasions; Group 2: 60 patients receiving methotrexate tested before and 14 weeks after treatment with infliximab. Assessments were made with self-completed questionnaires: the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 [SF-36 (SF-6D)], EuroQol, and, in some, the standard gamble. Group 2 also had joint counts, and measures of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and hemoglobin. RESULTS: The limits-of-agreement (Bland-Altman) approach had greater confidence intervals (CI) than did CI based on +/- 2 standard errors of the measurement. Improvement with infliximab could be determined with all measures, however, but the standard gamble seemed least responsive to change. CONCLUSION: The various measures had different degrees of responsiveness, but with all it was possible to show improvement in Group 2 compared to Group 1. There was a closer association of the patient centered measures of improvement with changes in pain score than with joint counts.
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Authors: J T Langfitt; B G Vickrey; M P McDermott; S Messing; A T Berg; S S Spencer; M R Sperling; C W Bazil; S Shinnar Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2006-06 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Nick J Bansback; Dean A Regier; Roberta Ara; Alan Brennan; Kamran Shojania; John M Esdaile; Aslam H Anis; Carlo A Marra Journal: Drugs Date: 2005 Impact factor: 9.546
Authors: M J Harrison; L M Davies; N J Bansback; M J McCoy; S M M Verstappen; K Watson; D P M Symmons Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2009-09-24 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Wietske Kievit; Jos Hendrikx; Peep F M Stalmeier; Mart A F J van de Laar; Piet L C M Van Riel; Eddy M Adang Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2010-05-08 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Martijn A H Oude Voshaar; Peter M ten Klooster; Erik Taal; Mart A F J van de Laar Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2011-11-07 Impact factor: 3.186
Authors: Garry R Barton; Tracey H Sach; Anthony J Avery; Michael Doherty; Claire Jenkinson; Kenneth R Muir Journal: Cost Eff Resour Alloc Date: 2009-07-17