Mean overall index for rheumatoid arthritis in rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with disease activity

Background: Mean Overall Index for Rheumatoid Arthritis (MOI-RA) is a new, continuous and feasible index to assess the impact on activity of daily living (which is the patient’s prime concern) so it could be useful in regular clinical practice for monitoring Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients. Objective: Assessment of disease activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis using Mean Overall Index for Rheumatoid Arthritis (MOI-RA). Material and method: The present study was a cross sectional study done on hundred RA patients as per American college of rheumatology criteria (ACR criteria) who presented in Rheumatology clinic at PGIMS, Rohtak (Haryana). Patients were assessed for disease activity using Disease activity score-28 (DAS28), Clinical disease activity index (CDAI), MOI-RA at baseline and at three months. Results: The mean age was 40.04 ±11.47 yrs with 84 females and 16 males. At baseline the mean DAS28, CDAI and MOI-RA score was 5.91±1.309, 30.56±17.82 and 43.54±18.81 respectively, while at three months was 2.74±0.84, 3.79±4.18, and 8.11±5.67, respectively. Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient of MOI-RA with DAS28 and CDAI at baseline was 0.962 and 0.961 respectively and at three months was 0.929 and 0.939 respectively (all p-value <0.001). Reliability index (assessed by Cronbach’s alpha) was 0.751, 0.445 and 0.360 for MOI-RA, DAS28 AND CDAI respectively. Conclusion: MOI –RA was found to be significantly correlated with DAS28 and CDAI. The components of MOIRA include all important measures of disease activity, so it could be useful in regular clinical practice for monitoring RA patients.