Assessment of Functional Disability in a Sample of Iraqi Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis by Using Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index Score: Single Center Study

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that involves the progressive damage to the joints and functional disability. Management of functional disability is an important issue in RA, affecting patient's quality of life and activities of daily living. The aim of this study is to assess functional disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Iraq by using Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and to identify the factors associated with it. This was a Prospective, Cross-sectional study carried out during January to November 2024 in Baghdad Teaching Hospital. A total of 100 patients with RA were recruited according to the 2010 diagnostic criteria for RA set by the American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (ACR/EULAR). Socio-demographic data, clinical characteristics, disease activity (Disease activity score 28, Clinical disease activity index), Visual analog scale of pain, presence of joint deformities, serological markers (Rheumatoid factor, Anti citrullinated peptide antibodies), treatment regimens were obtained. The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) was used to assess functional disability. A statistical analysis was conducted to determine factors associated with disability. The mean age of the participants was 50.1 ± 11.6 years and 85% of them were females. The mean score (HAQ-DI) was 1.38 ± 0.86, with 36% of patients experiencing mild-to moderate disability, 33% moderate-to severe disability, and 31% severe-to-very severe disability. A significant association with higher HAQ-DI was seen with age (r=0.271, p=0.006), longer disease duration (r=0.283, p=0.004), higher disease activity (Disease activity score 28, Clinical disease activity index), higher pain intensity (Visual analog scale), and morning stiffness >30 minutes. Disease activity, age, duration, pain and deformities are all associated with functional disability, which is still a major issue in Iraqi patients with RA.