The association between all-cause mortality and HAQ score at one year remained significant, even after adjustment for confounders. For baseline HAQ score, the unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.46 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.02–2.09), and the adjusted HR was 1.25 (95% CI 0.81–1.94). For HAQ score at one year, the unadjusted HR was 2.58 (95% CI 1.78–3.72), and the adjusted HR was 1.75 (95% CI 1.10–2.77).
Conclusion
The findings indicate that a higher HAQ score and DAS at one year are significantly associated with all-cause mortality in a large early RA cohort. Clinicians may find these results helpful to guide discussions with and counseling for patients regarding risk factors, such as smoking cessation, and monitoring treatment response.
Refer to the full study for all source material.
Excerpted and adapted from:
Fatima S, Schier O, Valois MF, et al. Health assessment questionnaire at one year predicts all-cause mortality in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021 Feb;73(2).
