HANDICAP IN INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS

Two instruments measuring handicap were evaluated and compared with cl inical; laboratory and disability measures. Participants were 133 pati ents attending a rheumatology follow-up clinic in a district general h ospital, of whom 102 were followed up after 3 months. Measurements inc luded acute-phase response, early morning stiffness, pain; wellbeing, joint involvement (impairments), the Stanford Health Assessment Questi onnaire (disability), the Disease Repercussion Profile and the London Handicap Scale (handicap). A substantial burden of disability and hand icap was recorded. There were moderate correlations between impairment s (0.4 < rho < 0.6), and moderate to strong correlations between disab ility and handicap measures (0.4 < rho < 0.8). Correlations between im pairment and disability/handicap were weak (rho < 0.4). Mean changes i n all variables over 3 months were small, and none was statistically s ignificant. A comprehensive description of the impact of disease and t reatment requires measurements to be made of impairments, disabilities and handicaps. The use of clinical and laboratory variables alone may be misleading.