Clinical profile and treatment outcomes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis at a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan

Objective:To examine the clinical and laboratory features and to measure treatment outcomes after using different disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in patients of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The observational study was conducted at the Rheumatology Unit of Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan,from March 15, 2014,to September 14, 2015, and comprised rheumatoid arthritis patients of either gender diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria.Disease activity score-28 and a thorough examination of the joints were employed to assess disease activity. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. Results: Of the 63 patients, 18(28.6%) were males and 45(71.4%) were females. The overall mean age was 43.09 +/- 13.03 years and mean duration of disease was 5.05 +/- 5.58 years. Seropositive disease was noted in 58(92.1%) patients and they had a higher level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Mean disease activity score-28 score at baseline was 5.52 +/- 0.99. At the end of 6 months, 44(69.8%) patients were in remission, 18(28.6%) had low disease activity and 1(1.6%) had moderate disease activity. The mean DAS score reduced to 3.11 0.77 at 6 months. Overall, 28(44.4%) patients had joint deformities. Conclusion: Females had a higher incidence of rheumatoid arthritis compared to males, and, overall, there was a high prevalence of joint deformities.