THE FOOT IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: WHAT FUNCTIONAL IMPACT

Introduction: The aim of our work was to detect this impairment in patients with RA and to assess its functional impact by the functional foot index (FFI).Methods: Cross-sectional study over a period of 1 month during which we collected 40 patients with RA. Clinical and paraclinical characteristics of RA were recorded. All patients underwent a clinical foot examination and podoscopic examination and completed the FFI self-questionnaire.Results: Forty patients with a mean age of 58.45±10.8 years were included. The mean total FFI score was 43.59% ±23.9. Forty percent of the patients had a total FFI score greater than 50%. The mean scores of the sub-scales PAIN, FUNCTION and ACTIVITY were respectively: 51%±21.9; 50%±26.97 and 28.9%±33. The analytical study showed a significant positive correlation between the total FFI score and these parameters: age (r=0.38; p= 0.014), number of nocturnal awakenings (r=0.42; p<0.01), morning stiffness (r=0.49; p<0.01), DAS28(CRP) score (r=0.32; p<0.047), and HAQ index ( p<0.01).