A comparison of patients with late-stage rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of the shoulder using self-assessed shoulder function and health status.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the function and health status of individuals with advanced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) of the shoulder using standardized patient self-assessment tools.

METHODS

A group of patients with late-stage arthritic involvement of the shoulder was evaluated at the time of initial presentation using 2 questionnaires, one focusing on shoulder function and other on overall health status.

RESULTS

There was substantial variability in the shoulder function and health status within each diagnostic group; however, both groups demonstrated significant deficits in their Simple Shoulder Test responses and in many of their Health Status Questionnaire-Short Form 36 scores. While the patients with RA tended to have somewhat greater impairment of shoulder function, many of the differences were not statistically significant. By contrast, most health status parameters were significantly more impaired in the patients with RA.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with late-stage shoulder arthritis, the overall health status of those with RA is significantly worse than those with OA. Differences in health status may be important in selecting the optimal management for individual patients with late-stage shoulder arthritis. Self-assessment questionnaires are effective in characterizing these differences.