Assessment of the minimal clinically important difference for the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index in patients with arthralgia at risk for progression to rheumatoid arthritis
Authors' conclusion
In arthralgia at-risk for RA, the MCID for improvement in HAQ-DI is -0.07. This is lower than generally reported in RA.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with arthralgia at risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with MTX in the TREAT EARLIER trial, with Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) data at baseline and 12 months
- Participants
- 97 patients
- Primary endpoint
- MCID for HAQ-DI: mean change in HAQ-DI of patients reporting 'somewhat better' and 'somewhat worse' on the SF-36 anchor question
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailsliterature review of minimal clinically important difference (MCID) estimates in RA, anchor-based MCID (SF-36 general health anchor question)
- Literature review of MCID estimates in RA
- Anchor-based MCID (SF-36 general health anchor question)
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
MCID for HAQ-DI in arthralgia at risk for RA
MCID for improvement
−0.07±0.28
MCID for deterioration
+0.05±0.6
Further findings
MCID estimates for HAQ-DI in RA (literature)
- MCID estimates range
- −0.06 to −0.38
- Higher absolute HAQ values correlated with a higher MCID
Original publication
Assessment of the minimal clinically important difference for the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index in patients with arthralgia at risk for progression to rheumatoid arthritis. RMD Open. Published 21 September 2025. doi:10.
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