ABSTRACT BACKGROUND:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can affect the feet, thus compromising the patient's gait and autonomy. In this study, we investigated foot disability in RA patients using the Brazilian versions of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ-BR) and Foot Function Index (FFI-BR).

DESIGN AND SETTING:

Cross-sectional, observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital.

METHODS:

Two hundred individuals were studied: 100 with RA and 100 controls. Demographic variables and FFI-BR and FHSQ-BR scores were analyzed. In relation to RA patients, data on medications used and on the following clinical variables were collected: Disease Activity Score-28-ESR; erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) level and rheumatoid factor (RF) level. The groups were compared and the scores and clinical variables were correlated.

RESULTS:

RA patients' scores in the pain, difficulty and disability domains of the FFI-BR questionnaire were worse (P < 0.0001). The FHSQ-BR showed that there were differences between RA patients and controls in relation to the pain and foot function domains: shoes (P < 0.0001), foot health (P < 0.0001), general health (P=0.0002), physical activity (P < 0.0001), social capacity (P = 0.0006) and vigor (P = 0.01). There were correlations between FFI-BR and DAS-28-ESR scores (rho = 0.45), ESR (rho = 0.27) and CRP (rho = 0.24). According to the FHSQ-BR questionnaire, there was a correlation between DAS-28-ESR and worse foot health (rho = 0.29).

CONCLUSION:

RA patients' scores in the foot health assessment questionnaires were worse than those of controls. A correlation between inflammatory activity and worse foot function was found.