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Published on: July 14, 2023
Prediction of walking disability by disease-related factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Marike van der Leeden1, Rutger Dahmen, Jennie Ursum
1Jan van Breemen Institute, Center for Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Jan van Breemenstraat 2, 1056 AB Amsterdam, The Netherland. m.vd.leeden@janvanbreemen.nl
Objective:
To investigate the relationship between disease-related factors and walking disability in different phases of rheumatoid arthritis; and to predict future walking disability in rheumatoid arthritis, using disease-related factors assessed 2 years after diagnosis.
Methods:
A cohort of 848 newly diagnosed patients with rheumatoid arthritis was followed up for a maximum of 8 years. Walking disability and several disease-related and demographic factors were recorded during follow-up. A logistic regression model was used to study associations between walking disability and these factors at different time points. A multilevel logistic regression model for longitudinal data was used to predict walking disability during follow-up from potential predictors at year 2.
Results:
Global pain and disease activity were consistently related to walking disability at almost every time point. Significant predictors of future walking disability were: walking disability, knee pain, global pain, the passage of time during follow-up, and age.
Conclusion:
Global pain and disease activity are related to walking disability during the first 8 years of RA. Walking disability, knee pain, and global pain at 2 years follow-up predict walking disability later in the disease. In addition, the risk for walking disability increases during the disease process and with higher age at diagnosis.