DAS 28 for defining remission in rheumatoid arthritis in Indian patients

ObjectiveTo establish DAS 28 and DAS 28-3 scores that best define remission in Indian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Patients and MethodsAll patients diagnosed with RA visiting AIIMS, New Delhi over a period of 3 months were recruited. Clinical assessment included 28 joint counts for swelling and tenderness, duration of early morning stiffness, patient global assessment of disease activity, fatigue, joint pains and ESR. DAS 28 and DAS 28-3 scores were calculated and receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was performed to define cutoff values utilizing ‘ACR 5/6’ and ‘ACR 4/5’ remission criteria.ResultsSubjects included 207 patients (M: 44; F: 163) with mean age of 47.4 ± 12.6 years, median disease duration of 8 [4.12–14] years.‘ACR 5/6’ and ‘ACR 4/5’ criteria for remission were satisfied by 34 (16.42%) and 44 patients (21.25%) patients, respectively. DAS 28 score of 2.94 (sensitivity 84.4%, specificity 85.3%) and DAS 28-3 score of 3.02 (sensitivity 82.1%, specificity 82.4) best defined the ‘ACR 5/6’ remission. Corresponding values using ‘ACR 4/5’ remission were 3.04 (sensitivity 85.9%, specificity 84.1%) for DAS 28 and 3.05 (sensitivity 82.2%, specificity 81.8%) for DAS 28-3.ConclusionsA cutoff value < 3 for both DAS 28 and DAS 28-3 defines remission in RA in Indian patients.