Application of App-based disease self-assessment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

  Objective   To explore the effect of App-based disease self-assessment on disease activity of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

  Methods   A total of 119 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in rheumatology outpatient department were enrolled in this study. A total of 110 patients were included after centralized randomization and exclusion of lost visitors, including 56 patients in the experimental group and 54 patients in the control group. Patients in the experimental group received self-assessment and management with Smart System of Disease Management (SSDM) for disease assessment management, while patients in the control group received routine follow-up. The disease conditions of all the patients were assessed at baseline time and 24 weeks after treatment.

  Results   At 24 weeks after treatment, 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), the number of joint pain, the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score, and the improvement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate in two groups showed significant differences (P <0.05). However, there was no significant difference in 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) score between the two groups (P >0.05).

  Conclusion   App-based disease self-assessment is beneficial to the disease control, improvement of body function and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It has positive significance to the disease outcome of patients.