Reevaluation of the role of duration of morning stiffness in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis activity.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of the duration of morning stiffness (MS), as a patient-reported outcome (PRO), in assessing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity.

Methods: We acquired information on 5439 patients in QUEST-RA, an international database of patients with RA evaluated by a standard protocol. MS duration was assessed from time of waking to time of maximal improvement.

Physical inactivity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: data from twenty-one countries in a cross-sectional, international study.

Objective: Regular physical activity is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality. Traditionally, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been advised to limit physical exercise. We studied the prevalence of physical activity and associations with demographic and disease-related variables in patients with RA from 21 countries.