Health assessment questionnaire

Periodontal disease (PD) has both been associated with the pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and is also a comorbidity of RA. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the functional status of RA on oral and periodontal health in a multi-ethnic population. This is a hospital-based, multi-ethnic, observational study. Duration of illness, Disease Activity Score (DAS28), seropositivity and other rheumatological parameters were obtained from the records of RA patients attending the Rheumatology Clinic. Oral health examination was conducted on the subjects. Their functional status was assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) which includes categories in 'dressing', 'rising', 'eating', 'walking', 'hygiene', 'reach', 'grip' and 'usual activities'. Data were analysed using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson's Correlation or Spearman's Rank Correlation Test. The 63 RA patients recruited had a mean disease duration of 10.7 ± 9.85 years with a mean of 19.9 teeth (± 7.18). The severity of PD worsens the longer the patients were suffering from RA (p=0.028). A high frequency (70%) of PD with 27% moderate and 27% severe, was observed. A significant association (p=0.035) was found between the 'eating' category of the HAQ and the average periodontal pocket depth. This study shows that there is a higher prevalence and severity of PD among RA patients in the selected population. The impact of functional status on periodontal health is mostly in the 'eating' category of the HAQ where patients reporting a disability in eating had higher average periodontal pocket depth. © 2019 Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. All rights reserved.

Objectif. – Les buts de notre étude ont été d'évaluer de manière prospective, dans une population de patients atteints de polyarthrite rhumatoïde (PR) : (1) la corrélation entre l'amélioration clinique telle qu'elle est définie par les critères de l'ACR (American College of Rheumatology) et l' ...

Physical disability is part of the end point measures in rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials. The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ DI) is often used for this purpose but lacks international uniformity owing to variations in the translated and adapted questionnaires and variations in its calculation. To study the consequences of these variations the previous Dutch HAQ (HAQ90) was revised, resulting in a new Dutch HAQ (HAQ99). To compare DI scores from the two versions, and to study the consequences of applying different calculation methods for the DI score. 78 patients completed both the HAQ99 and the HAQ90. To compare the use of different category score calculation methods a post hoc analysis on prospectively collected data obtained in clinical trials was performed. No statistically significant differences were observed between the DI scores of the HAQ90 and the HAQ99 using the alternative method (that is, without correcting for aid and devices). Howev...

Objective. Scoring poorly on the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) has recently been shown to be a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while a good HAQ score is predictive of a better outcome. In patients presenting with early diffuse scleroderma prognosis is variable. Our goal was to determine possible baseline predictors of future good outcomes. Methods. We used the raw data from two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in early diffuse scleroderma: methotrexate (Pope et al.) and D-penicillamine (Clements et al.). Subjects in the methotrexate trial were divided into the following groups: (1) those with at least 20% improvement in the primary outcome measurements (patient global assessment, physician global assessment, UCLA skin tethering score, modified Rodnan skin score (MRSS), DLCO as % predicted and HAQ disability) at 1y rvs (2) the others. Baseline factors (including age, gender, skin scores, physician and patient global assessments, HA...

Objective. Scoring poorly on the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) has recently been shown to be a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while a good HAQ score is predictive of a better outcome. In patients presenting with early diffuse scleroderma prognosis is variable. Our goal was to determine possible baseline predictors of future good outcomes. Methods. We used the raw data from two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in early diffuse scleroderma: methotrexate (Pope et al.) and D-penicillamine (Clements et al.). Subjects in the methotrexate trial were divided into the following groups: (1) those with at least 20% improvement in the primary outcome measurements (patient global assessment, physician global assessment, UCLA skin tethering score, modified Rodnan skin score (MRSS), DLCO as % predicted and HAQ disability) at 1y rvs (2) the others. Baseline factors (including age, gender, skin scores, physician and patient global assessments, HA...

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and internal consistency of measurements of utilities performed with a computer program (iMPACT2) designed for Internet surveys and Internet patient decision-support systems. We implemented the Internet Multimedia Preference Assessor Construction Tool, version 2 (iMPACT2) program using the combination of a web server, HTML files, and a web-accessible database. The program randomized subjects, screened their responses for missing data and failures of internal consistency, assisted patients with resolving certain inconsistencies, and, upon a subject's completion of the protocol, provided a report of results to the research assistant administering the program. To validate the iMPACT2 program, we recruited 60 healthy community volunteers and elicited preferences in a research-lab setting using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the standard gamble (SG) for subject's current health and three hypothetical states. For purposes of...

University students all over the globe are commonly affected by various health problems that impact their academic and daily life. Common illnesses like flu, cough, stress, anxiety, and depression deteriorates their well-being, leading to interference with their university experiences and learning process. This study aims to investigate the occurrence of common illnesses in students of a private university of Malaysia that affects their health and quality of life.
Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 400 students by convenience sampling from all faculties of a private university. A descriptive analysis was carry-out using SPSS (Version 20) for estimating various illnesses reported on pre-validated General Health Assessment form.
Result: Occurrence of common illnesses among university students during the previous 12 months was estimated and the same was also compared tothe previous month. The study found significant correlation (p = 0.01) in most of the illnesses studied. The overall study shows that the health of students surveyed is under the acceptable rang.5 students (1.3%) stated that their general health was poor, 42 students (10.5%) stated that their general health was fair, 191 students (47.8%) stated that their general health was good, 101 students (25.3%) stated that their general health was very good and 61 students (15.3%) stated that their general health was excellent on the Likert scale.
Conclusion: This cross sectional study indicates that despite students being exposed to several stress factors that lead them to being more prone to illnesses or poor healthy state such as mental, environmental and academic stress, most of the students of university were healthy. Their health status was still in the scale of excellent or very good.

Obesity is characterised by low-grade inflammation and could potentially affect disease activity and severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Body mass index (BMI), body fat (BF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, disease activity score 28, physical function (health assessment questionnaire) and presence of erosions and joint surgery were assessed in 294 (female=219) volunteers with established RA [age 63.3 (56.2-69.6); disease duration 13 (7-20) years]. Smoking status, rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide positivity were also assessed. BMI and BF independently associated with disease characteristics. Compared to normal-weight patients, underweight and obese had higher C-reactive protein (p=0.046) and physical dysfunction (p=0.034). BMI or BF did not associate with presence of erosions or joint surgery. In patients with established RA, both very low and very high BMI and BF associate independently with increased disease activity and physical dysfunction; however, this does not seem to associate with presence of erosions or joint surgery. Further longitudinal studies are required to address this apparent dissociation.

Agreement on response criteria in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has allowed better standardization and interpretation of clinical trial reports. With recent advances in therapy, the proportion of patients achieving a satisfactory state of minimal disease activity (MDA) is becoming a more important measure with which to compare different treatment strategies. The threshold for MDA is between high disease activity and remission and, by definition, anyone in remission will also be in MDA. True remission is still rare in RA; in addition, the American College of Rheumatology definition is difficult to apply in the context of trials. Participants at OMERACT 6 in 2002 agreed on a conceptual definition of minimal disease activity (MDA): "that state of disease activity deemed a useful target of treatment by both the patient and the physician, given current treatment possibilities and limitations." To prepare for a preliminary operational definition of MDA for use in clinical trials, we...

Self-administered computer-assisted blood donor screening strategies may elicit more accurate responses and improve the screening process. Randomized crossover trial comparing responses to questions on a computerized hand-held tool (HealthQuiz, or HQ), to responses on the standard written instrument (Donor Health Assessment Questionnaire, or DHAQ). Randomly selected donors at 133 blood donation clinics in the area of Hamilton, Canada participated from 1995 to 1996. Donors were randomized to complete either the HQ or the DHAQ first, followed by the other instrument. In addition to responses of 'yes' and 'no' on both questionnaires, the HQ provided a response option of 'not sure'. The primary outcome was the number of additional donors deferred by the HQ. A total of 1239 donors participated. Seventy-one potential donors were deferred as a result of responses to the questionnaires; 56.3% (40/71) were deferred by the DHAQ, and an additional 43.7% (31/71) were def...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Knowing the differences in the effectiveness between three tumour necrosis factor alpha antagonists (anti-TNF alpha) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has important clinical implications. The aim of this study was to assess anti-TNF alpha ...

Agreement on response criteria in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has allowed better standardization and interpretation of clinical trial reports. With recent advances in therapy, the proportion of patients achieving a satisfactory state of minimal disease activity (MDA) is becoming a more important measure with which to compare different treatment strategies. The threshold for MDA is between high disease activity and remission and, by definition, anyone in remission will also be in MDA. True remission is still rare in RA; in addition, the American College of Rheumatology definition is difficult to apply in the context of trials. Participants at OMERACT 6 in 2002 agreed on a conceptual definition of minimal disease activity (MDA): "that state of disease activity deemed a useful target of treatment by both the patient and the physician, given current treatment possibilities and limitations." To prepare for a preliminary operational definition of MDA for use in clinical trials, we...

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the efficacy of an alkaline mineral supplement as a means of sup- pressing disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and to check whether any change occurs in the circulating beta-endorphin concentration. Thirty-seven patients with moderately active RA of at least two years duration, who were receiving stable pharmacological treatment, participated

Objective. The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ) is a widely used outcome measure in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), whereas the SF-12v2 Health Survey (SF-12) was introduced recently. We investigated how the HAQ and SF-12 were associated with ...