Chronic Widespread Pain in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Relation Between Pain and Disease Activity Measures over the First 5 Years

Abstract

ChWP is a common feature in RA, more associated with high values for variables related to pain such as the DAS28 and HAQ than to indicators of ongoing inflammation such as swollen joint count, ESR, and CRP. Patients with ChWP should be identified so that adequate treatment also of the noninflammatory pain may be instituted.