Disease control and its associated factors in outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate disease activity and explore the factors associated with poor disease control among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This cross-sectional study was conducted at outpatient rheumatology clinics in two teaching hospitals in Jordan. Medication adherence was assessed using the validated five-item compliance questionnaire for rheumatology, and disease activity was assessed using the clinical disease activity Index score. Ordinal regression was performed to explore the factors associated with uncontrolled RA. Most of the participants (n=261) demonstrated moderate to high disease activity (71.2%). Seronegative RA (B=-0.882, CI [-1.584/-0.180], p<0.05) was significantly associated with lower disease activity, while medication non-adherence was significantly associated with poor RA control (B=1.023, CI [0.289-1.756], p<0.01). Future research should explore the factors associated with medication non-adherence. These factors should be targeted in future interventions to improve RA control, particularly in patients who suffer from high disease severity.