Combined PLR and VAS for patient self-perception in rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective study

To explore the independent and synergistic predictive value of platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for multidimensional self-perception of patient (SPP) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to support high-risk population stratification.

A total of 708 RA patients were enrolled and categorized into four groups according to the median levels of PLR and VAS. Correlation and multivariate logistic regression analyses were adopted to evaluate their associations with SPP.

PLR and VAS were closely correlated with multidimensional SPP abnormalities. High VAS served as an independent risk factor for SPP deterioration. Combined high PLR and high VAS exhibited a prominent synergistic effect, greatly increasing the risk of impaired mental health and TCM spleen deficiency with dampness syndrome.

Combined PLR and VAS assessment offers synergistic predictive value for SPP deterioration in RA. The dual-high phenotype can serve as a simple auxiliary marker for identifying high-risk RA patients to facilitate targeted monitoring and personalized management, with further prospective validation still required.