However , the 4 generic scales would benefit from further validation in patients with RA , the VAS requires st and ardization , and the MAF would benefit from further sensitivity data .
OBJECTIVE Fatigue is an important outcome for patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) .
The purpose of this study was to identify the scales being used to measure RA fatigue , and to systematic ally examine the evidence for their validation .
Statistical approach to indices of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
When any drug trial is being carried out it is essential that some criterion of improvement be available to assess the efficacy . In the ideal case there is one single measure , reliably and validly assessed , which is acceptable as this criterion . More frequently , however , there are several possible criteria . The usual practice is to deal with each separately and then in the discussion to point out which symptoms responded to treatment . Clinical ly this has obvious advantages in suggesting the appropriate applications of the treatment , but reliability will be increased if the various scores can be combined in some meaningful way . The unsophisticated way to do this is to add together the various scores , but there may be some clinical justification for weighting major symptoms more than minor ones and this can be done . In rheumatoid arthritis , Lansbury ( 1958 ) has been a keen advocate of indices . His Articular Index weighted the score on each joint by the area of joint ( Lansbury and Haut , 1956 ) and his Systemic Index based on morning stiffness , fatigue , aspirin need , grip strength , and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was believed to measure the inflammatory aspects of the disease ( Lansbury , 1956 ) . A double-blind cross-over trial of indomethacin , previously undertaken ( Wright , Walker , and McGuire , 1969 ) in 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis to investigate the value of the drug compared with phenylbutazone and placebo , was set up in such a way that the Lansbury Systemic Index could be evaluated and the place of other indices determined . The results of this aspect of the study are reported in this paper
However , the 4 generic scales would benefit from further validation in patients with RA , the VAS requires st and ardization , and the MAF would benefit from further sensitivity data .
OBJECTIVE Fatigue is an important outcome for patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) .
The purpose of this study was to identify the scales being used to measure RA fatigue , and to systematic ally examine the evidence for their validation .