Disease activity assessment and patient-reported outcomes in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Quantitative assessment of disease activity and patient-reported outcomes are recognized as valuable in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Complexities of assessment of RA include challenges concerning measures themselves, as a gold standard measure for disease status does not exist. This article discusses the hurdles in the implementation of quantitative assessment of RA in usual clinical care and also provides an example to monitor patients with early RA.