Understanding Differences in Patient Descriptions of Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares Using OMERACT Core Domains
Authors' conclusion
Variations in patients' flare descriptions can be driven by a patient's disease activity, the experience of a recent flare, as well as different demographic characteristics, such as age and gender.
Study context
- Population
- Participants enrolled in a prospective rheumatoid arthritis (RA) registry
- Participants
- 645 participants
- Outcome
- Variations in flare descriptions (responses to "What does a flare mean to you?" categorized into OMERACT core and research domains) by demographic and clinical characteristics
Methodological detailsqualitative survey, prospective RA registry, regression analyses
- Qualitative survey
- Prospective RA registry
- Regression analyses
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Characteristics associated with flare descriptions
- Fatigue more commonly noted among females, OR
- 6.12; P < 0.001
- Older age, emotional distress, OR
- 0.97; P = 0.03
- Older age, swollen joints, OR
- 0.99; P = 0.04
- Older age, physical function decrease, OR
- 0.98; P = 0.02
- Older age, general increase in RA symptoms, OR
- 0.98; P = 0.005
- Higher DAS28, stiffness, OR
- 0.70; P = 0.009
- Flare within last 6 months, pain, OR
- 2.53; P < 0.001
- Flare within last 6 months, fatigue, OR
- 2.00; P = 0.007
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Cohort characteristics and number of OMERACT domains reported
- DAS28-CRP, median (IQR)
- 2.1 (IQR 1.6-2.9)
- At least 1 flare in past 6 months
- 58%
- OMERACT domains reported when describing flares, median (IQR)
- 3 (IQR 2-5)
Original publication
Understanding Differences in Patient Descriptions of Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares Using OMERACT Core Domains. J Rheumatol. Published 1 February 2023. doi:10.
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