A CLUE FROM A SELF-REPORT QUESTIONNAIRE TO DISTINGUISH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS FROM NONINFLAMMATORY DIFFUSE MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN - THE P-VAS-D-ADL RATIO

A clue to distinguishing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from noninflammatory diffuse musculoskeletal pain is described on the basis of 2 self‐report questionnaire scales, one to assess difficulty in activities of daily living (D‐ADL) and a pain visual analog scale (P‐VAS). Patients with RA have significantly higher scores on the D‐ADL scale compared with the P‐VAS scale, while patients with noninflammatory diffuse musculoskeletal pain show the reciprocal pattern. Therefore, the ratio of the P‐VAS:D‐ADL scores differed significantly in the 2 groups. Ratios of <3 were seen in 67% of RA patients versus 28% of patients with noninflammatory diffuse musculoskeletal pain, while ratios >5 were seen in 27% of patients with noninflammatory diffuse musculoskeletal pain, but not in any patients with RA. This simple ratio is clearly not a diagnostic test, but provides an initial approach to diagnosis in rheumatic diseases using a self‐report questionnaire. Copyright © 1990 American College of Rheumatology