Correlation of Disease Activity Scores and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID3) on a Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Saudi Experience

Introduction This study aimed to analyze the correlation between Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID3) and disease activity scores using the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28 erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)/C-reactive protein (CRP)), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) attending a single rheumatology center in Jeddah. Methods A cross-sectional study of patients with RA who fulfilled the 2010 American College of Rheumatology criteria for the diagnosis of RA between June 2018 and November 2019 was conducted. The validated Arabic version of the multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) was used. The data collected included demographic information, comorbid illnesses, concomitant medications, laboratory results, and disease activity measured using the DAS 28 ESR/CRP, CDAI, SDAI, and RAPID3. Results A total of 137 patients with RA were included in the analysis; the mean age was 53.1 (± 12) years, there were 122 (89%) females, and the mean disease duration was 8 (± 4) years. Forty-nine (44.5%) patients were treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF), 53 (48.2%) with non-anti-TNF, 8 (7.3%) with Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and 27 (20%) with synthetic disease-modifying drugs (sDMARD). The mean RAPID3 (0-10) score was 3.6 (± 2) for low disease activity. The mean DAS28 ESR was 4.16 (± 4) for moderate disease activity. The mean DAS CRP was 3.39 (± 1.2) for moderate disease activity. The mean CDAI was 13.4 (± 10.7) for moderate disease activity. The mean SDAI was 15.34 (± 11.8) for moderate disease activity. Pearson’s correlations showed a strong correlation with DAS28 CRP (r=0.773, p < 0.001), SDAI (r=0.764,p < 0.001), CDAI (r=0.710, p < 0.001), and DAS28 ESR (r=0.283, p < 0.002). Conclusion RAPID3 significantly correlated with DAS28-CRP, SDAI, and CDAI scores in our patients. It is a simple, inexpensive, and patient-centered practical tool for assessing disease activity that can reflect the health-related quality of life and be easily implemented in clinical practice.