G. Stucki et al., WEIGHTING FOR JOINT SURFACE-AREA IMPROVES THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BYA REDUCED 28-JOINT ARTICULAR INDEX OF SWOLLEN JOINTS, Scandinavian journal of rheumatology, 27(2), 1998, pp. 125-129
The objective of our study was to examine whether weighting for joint
surface area or recording of simultaneously tender and swollen joints
increases the association of a reduced 28-joint articular index with c
linical and outcome parameters. In a cross-sectional study we examined
61 consecutive outpatients with RA fulfilling the American Rheumatism
Association 1987 revised criteria. Tender, swollen, and simultaneousl
y tender and swollen joints were recorded. The association of 28- and
68-joint articular indices with clinical and outcome parameters were e
stimated with nonparametric correlation analyses. Weighting for joint
surface yielded consistently increased correlation of clinical and out
come parameters with swollen and tender and swollen but not with tende
r joint counts. The correlation of the 28-joint articular and 68-artic
ular indices with these parameters were similar. In conclusion, weight
ing for joint surface notably improves the information provided by swo
llen joint counts, whereas it does not appear to improve the informati
on provided by tender joint counts.