Work disability in an inception cohort of patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis: a 20 year study

Objective. Information from successive inception cohorts is needed to monit or the long-term prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the effect of t reatment on it. We studied work disability and its association with the Hea lth Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) index and the Larsen score of radiograph ic damage. Methods. Work disability was recorded at onset and at 1, 3, 8, 15 and 20 yr from entry among 103 patients with recent-onset (<6 months) seropositive R A. Results. Work disability due to RA was already 31% [95% confidence interval (CI) 21-40] after 1 yr among patients of working age. II increased gradual ly and the cumulative rate reached 80% (95% CI 70-89) by the 20 yr check-up . The mean HAQ index was 0.96 at the 20 yr check-up and the mean Larsen sco re 45% of the maximum value. Conclusion. The data serve as a basis of comparison for later cohort studie s.