Health status in rheumatoid arthritis over 7 years

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A pivotal question when evaluating the long term outcome of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is how the disease itself evolves over time and to what extent new treatments contribute to such changes. Insight into the evolution of the manifestations of RA can help to define agendas for research and healthcare delivery world wide. In this issue of the Annals Heiberg et al describe “7 year changes in health status and priorities for improvement of health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis” and conclude that “although pain remained the area of highest priority for improvement among patients, the health status improved from 1994 to 2001, probably owing to access to better and more aggressive treatments”.1 In this editorial, we will briefly elaborate on the strengths of longitudinal observational studies (LOS), in general, and on the relative importance of research on patient priorities in such studies, in particular. Next, we will discuss the subject of time and change over time in longitudinal studies in the light of the conclusion drawn from the present study.