Table 3 Sensitivity of PGA to change in disease activity and comparison with other measures of disease
Study group | Study details | Main findings |
|---|---|---|
Kaneko et al. 2014 [46] | Prospective study Newly diagnosed RA 75 patients Discordance between PGA and EGA | PGA more sensitive for indicating progressive joint destruction and functional impairment when compared with EGA Discrepancy directed toward a worse assessment by patients |
Pope et al. 2009 [52] | Prospective study of a large clinical practice 225 RA patients MID estimates for: (1) HAQ-DI improvement and worsening using PGA anchor; and (2) pain using a patient-reported pain anchor. | MID scores for HAQ-DI in clinical practice were smaller than those seen in clinical trials MID scores were influenced by baseline HRQOL scores and may be influenced by disease duration MID changes were different for worsening (usually needing a larger value) than for improving MID for deterioration was much less than for improvement in patients with more pain and impairment in physical function |
Wells et al. 2008 [31] | Randomized controlled trial comparing abatacept (n = 258) with placebo (n = 133) in anti-TNF poor respondents (ATTAIN study) Evaluation of the responsiveness of PROs in RA patients | PGA had larger relative percentage improvement with treatment (24 %) than the generic quality of life outcomes SF-36 domains and component scores (range 8–21 %) PGA was more efficient than TJC in detecting a treatment effect PGA was found to be in close proximity to the ESR, physician global assessment and the PROs pain assessment, HAQ, bodily pain and physical component score in terms of the standardized response means |
Lassere et al. 2001 [53] | Literature review on reliability for different classes of RA measures | The SDD for the PGA (as well as for SJC, TJC, and pain) was found to be large and it had poor reliability compared to multi-item measures of physical and psychological function and radiologic measures |
Ward 1994 [54] | Prospective study 24 RA patients Determination of the relative accuracy and sensitivity to change of 14 measures commonly used to assess arthritis activity | High correlation between EGA, PGA, and pain scores The PGA along with other measures of disease severity have been shown to be more sensitive to change than laboratory measures (ESR) |