Disease course and prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis: an interdisciplinary prospective longitudinal study.

A three-year follow-up of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis was performed. The overall aim was to examine the change in functional status and psychological well-being. Possible determinants of prognosis with regard to future functional disability, pain and wellbeing, were explored by both univariate and multiple regression analyses. Functional disability, pain and well-being were fairly stable over the 3-year period. Progress of RA disease was most strongly related to initial function and age and only to a minor extent to the psychological well-being.