Evaluation of the RAID Score in Assessing Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity in Teleconsultation.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the relevance of the RAID score as a disease activity marker of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a teleconsultation setting. METHODS:Prospective observational 24-months duration single-center study, involving RA patients who underwent teleconsultations. The RAID score was sent to all patients via email, and completed the day before the scheduled session. The RAID questionnaire was also completed just prior the next scheduled face-to-face consultation. The same physician performed teleconsultation / in-person consultations and was unaware of the RAID results. RESULTS:We included 70 patients (mean age: 50±14 years, mean disease duration: 10±9 years). The RAID score correlated with the following items: patient global assessment (r=0.55, p<0.001), patient-reported swollen joint count (r=0.50, p<0.001) and DAS28-CRP calculated with patient self-reported tender/swollen joints (r=0.74, p<0.001). The RAID score completed during the next face-to-face consultation for 45 patients also correlated with the DAS28-CRP performed by the clinician (r=0.65, p<0.001). A RAID score >2 was associated with the best combination of sensitivity (94%) and specificity (43%) for the indication of rapid in-person consultation because of insufficiently controlled disease activity, with an AUC of 0.74. All 23 patients with RAID<2 had no intercurrent flares, overall PGA was 1.6±1.4/10, DAS28-CRP 1.5±0.2 and CRP 1.8±1.4 mg/L. CONCLUSION:our findings reinforce RAID score as a valuable tool in teleconsultation, exhibiting a good correlation with disease activity parameters. Using a RAID score threshold of 2 during teleconsultations could distinguish patients with good disease control and those with the potential need for in person visit.