Practical Disease Activity Scoring for Rheumatoid Arthritis Follow-Up Visits

In this episode titled, 'Practical Disease Activity Scoring for Rheumatoid Arthritis Follow-Up Visits', Dr. Julia Buchfuhrer led the conversation about the following questions:

• Let's start with how you're assessing disease activity in RA patients in routine practice. Which scoring tools are you using most consistently, and how are you building reassessment into the care cycle?
• How frequently are you bringing patients back to formally reevaluate disease activity after a treatment change and what is your clinical rationale for this decision?

Dr. Buchfuhrer highlighted the range of objective scoring tools available for assessing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity, noting her preference for the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) for its speed and ease of use in routine visits. She explained that the CDAI relies on data clinicians are already gathering, such as tender and swollen joint counts and a physician global assessment, making it practical to apply at every patient encounter. She also discussed her approach to reassessment timing, bringing patients back roughly every 12 weeks in line with guideline recommendations, since most RA medications require two to three months to demonstrate meaningful efficacy.

Throughout the conversation, the experts provided a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.

In the next episode, 'Bridging the Gap Between ACR Guidelines and Real-World RA Management', Dr. Buchfuhrer continue her discussion on rheumatoid arthritis and highlight the disconnect between American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guideline recommendations and current clinical evidence on switching biologic classes after treatment failure.