Thinking Outside the Joints: The Impact of Nonarticular Pain on Patient‐Reported Outcomes in a Prospective Longitudinal Real‐World Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Cohort
Authors' conclusion
NAP interferes with key aspects of well-being in early RA. Individuals with NAP experience greater pain interference and impairments in physical and social function
Study context
- Population
- Newly diagnosed active early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (symptoms <1 year; CDAI >2.8), followed over the first year; mostly women (66%), mean age 57 (SD 14) years246 (52%) with nonarticular pain (NAP) at baseline
- Participants
- 472 participants
- Exposure
- Regional NAP and widespread NAP vs no NAP
- Regional NAPn = 176
- Widespread NAPn = 70
- Outcome
- Association of NAP with PROMIS-29 domains (adjusted mean change)
- Follow-up
- First year
Methodological detailsmulticenter, real-world, longitudinal, mixed models adjusted for sociodemographic and RA characteristics and time-varying CDAI
- Multicenter
- Real-world
- Longitudinal
- Mixed models adjusted for sociodemographic and RA characteristics and time-varying CDAI
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Adjusted mean change in PROMIS-29 domains, regional vs no NAP
Each group vs no NAPEstimate (95% CI)
Regional NAP
adjusted mean change, physical function −1.4(−2.1 to −0.7)
Regional NAP
adjusted mean change, pain interference 2.7(1.9–3.5)
Regional NAP
adjusted mean change, sleep disturbance 1.2(0.4–2.0)
Regional NAP
adjusted mean change, fatigue 2.1(1.2–3.1)
Regional NAP
adjusted mean change, anxiety 1.5(0.7–2.4)
Regional NAP
adjusted mean change, depression 1.4(0.5–2.2)
Regional NAP
adjusted mean change, social participation −2.4(−3.3 to −1.5)
- Widespread NAP
- pain interference 5.0 (95% CI 3.7–6.4)
- Widespread NAP
- fatigue 3.2 (95% CI 1.7–4.8)
- Widespread NAP
- social participation −5.6 (95% CI −7.2 to −4.0)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Thinking Outside the Joints: The Impact of Nonarticular Pain on Patient‐Reported Outcomes in a Prospective Longitudinal Real‐World Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Cohort. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 2 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →