[Relationship between individual radiographic findings and disability in rheumatoid arthritis]

To evaluate if the duration of disease influences the link between different radiographic specific features and disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the influence of disease duration on this relationship.

Conventional X- rays of both hands of 96 patients with RA were evaluated independently by 2 readers using Kayes' modification of the Sharp method. Disability was evaluated with the Spanish version of the HAQ questionnaire.

The mean HAQ was 1, 39 ± 0, 79. The mean total radiographic score was 0.8 (18% of the maximum possible score). Total and joint space narrowing scores only displayed a statistically significant correlation (r=0.33, r=.37, respectively, P<.05) with disability in the late RA group (>7 years). Erosion and malalignment scores were not correlated with HAQ. There was a statistically significant correlation between the eating, dressing and reach HAQ-categories and the total radiographic score in the late RA group (r=0.48, P<.001, r=0.42, P<.01, r=0.3, P<.05, respectively).

This work suggests that HAQ disability and radiographic damage are only related in cases with late RA. In this group, the subtotal radiographic score most related with disability is the joint space narrowing score.