Outcome in rheumatoid arthritis. A 1985 inception cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to describe the clinical status and outcome of a 1985 inception cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), retrospectively established.

METHODS

All patients with RA in Edmonton, with a possible onset of disease in 1985, and who consulted a rheumatologist at any time from January, 1985 through June, 1991 were considered for inclusion in the cohort. Patients were contacted and assessed between August, 1991 and June, 1992. The following indices were used as outcome measures: joint counts, radiological scores of hand radiographs and the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire for activities of daily living (MHAQ).

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty eight patients were included in the cohort (70% were women; age at onset was 52 +/- 13 years). At the time of the assessment, 41 patients (32%) had no articular swelling. Twenty-nine patients (23%) had a radiological score of 0, and 39 (31%) had no erosions. The mean MHAQ score was 0.49 +/- 0.47; 39 patients (31%) had a score of 0 (normal function). Rheumatoid factors and nodules were related to more severe outcomes. Sex, age at onset and mode of onset were not related to prognosis. Most patients had received 2nd line therapy within the first 3 years of RA.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the prognosis of RA after 6-7 years of disease is not as ominous as has been suggested by others. Since most of the previous studies have been conducted in prevalent cases attending tertiary centers, a selection bias may be responsible for some of these results. Since these patients were treated early in the course of the disease, the beneficial effects of prompt 2nd line therapy cannot be excluded.