MDHAQ/RAPID3 to Recognize Improvement Over 2 Months in Usual Care of Patients With Osteoarthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Spondyloarthropathy, and Gout, as Well as Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: To analyze whether MDHAQ (Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire) scores for physical function (FN), pain, Patient Global Estimate (PATGL), and RAPID3 (Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data, a composite of these 3 measures) document improvement in patients with osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, spondyloarthropathy, and gout, similarly to rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: In a solo rheumatology practice, every patient completes an MDHAQ/RAPID3 and is assigned a Physician Global Estimate (DOCGL) at every visit. Mean and median FN (0-10 scale), pain (0-10), PATGL (0-10), RAPID3 (0-30), and DOCGL (0-10) were computed at first visit and 2 months later in 141 new patients with 5 diagnoses. Proportions with RAPID3 high (>12), moderate (6.1-12), and low (3.1-6) severity and remission (<= 3) were computed. Differences between baseline and 2-month follow-up for each diagnosis were analyzed using paired t tests. Mean changes over 2 months across 5 diagnoses were compared using analysis of variance. Results: Mean baseline scores for all measures were in narrow ranges for all 5 diagnoses: FN 1.5 to 2.5, pain 4.2 to 5.9, PATGL 4.3 to 5.6, RAPID3 10.1 to 13.7, and DOCGL 2.4 to 4.0. Improvement for FN was 9.4% to 26.8% in all diagnoses but osteoarthritis, for pain 20.2% to 35.3% in all diagnoses, PATGL 11.3% to 30.4%, RAPID3 16.8% to 27.5%, and for DOCGL 23.8% to 36.4%, similar in 5 diagnostic groups. Conclusions: MDHAQ, RAPID3, and DOCGL document similar baseline and improvement scores in patients with 5 diagnoses. These quantitative data may supplement traditional narrative, "gestalt'' descriptions in usual care of patients with any rheumatic disease.