We found in this study that the prevalence of FSD in rheumatoid arthritis in our centers was 29.4%. Age and family dynamics appear to be more important predictors compared to disease activity.

Aim:  This is a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) descriptive study, the first of its kind carried out in Malaysia. Methods:  This descriptive study involved 1084 RA patients’ epidemiological and clinical data taken from Selayang, Putrajaya, Taiping and Seremban hospitals from June 2004 to December 2005. Results:  One thousand and eighty‐four RA patients'data were analysed; 960 (88.6%) patients were female and 124 (11.4%) were male, approximately 8 : 1 M : F ratio. The majority of the patients were Indian (591; 54.5%), followed by the Malays (340; 31.4%), Chinese (126; 11.6%), indigenous (13; 1.2%) and others (14; 1.3%). Mean age was 49.6 ± 11.8 years with the youngest being 15 years and the oldest 88 years of age. Mean age for males was 52.0 ± 12.0 and females 49.3 ± 11.7 years (P = 0.017). Most of these patients were housewives (565; 52.1%), followed by paid workers (266; 24.5%), retired patients (80; 7.4%), unemployed (76; 7.0%) and others (97; 8.9%). Mean duration of illness was 8.4 ± 6.7 years; 805 (74.3%) patients were relatively new patients (≤ 2 years illness duration) and 279 (25.7%) patients had illness duration > 2 years. Eight hundred and six (74.4%) were seropositive RA patients and 385 (35.5%) had presence of deformity. The majority of patients were treated with methotrexate (178; 16.4%), followed by combination of methotrexate, sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine (143; 13.2%), leflunomide (140; 12.9%), sulfasalazine (133; 12.3%) and combination of methotrexate and sulfasalazine (108; 10%). Conclusion:  In the above study, the majority of patients were female (960; 88.6%), Indian (591; 54.5%), had a mean age of 49.6 ± 11.8 years, most were housewives with a mean duration of illness of 8.4 ± 6.7 years and were treated with methotrexate (178; 16.4%). The results of the study may help Malaysian rheumaologists to understand their patients better and treat RA holistically.

Introduction: This cross sectional study consisted of taking anti-Citrulinated Cyclic Peptide CCP levels and doing Health Assessment Questionnaire for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients. 52 rheumatoid arthritis patients were recruited. Objective: To investigate the correlation between anti-Citrulinated Cyclic Peptide levels and Health Assessment Questionnaire severity among rheumatoid arthritis patients. Results: 52 RA patients were recruited. 43(82.7%) patients were female and 9(17.3%) were male. 43(82.7%) patients were Malay, 2(3.8%) patients were Chinese, 6(11.5%) patients were Indian and 1(1.9%) patient was Sikh. Mean age was 46.17±12.66 years and the 41-60 age group has the most patients (30(47.1%)). Mean age of onset was 43.24±12.72 years and mean disease duration was 3.08±4.49 years. 30(58.8%) patients did not have any complications, 13(25.5%) had secondary osteoarthritis, 4(7.8%) had lungs complications, 2(3.9%) had hepatitis, 1(2.0%) had nephropathy and 1(2.0%) had Cushing's syndrome. 25(49.0%) of the patients had deformities. 33(67.4%) patients were still active with a mean DAS28 score of 4.3±2.0 and 16(32.7%) had complete remission with a mean DAS28 score of 1.6±0.8. The anti-Citrulinated Cyclic Peptide median value was 10768.17±48342.30. IU/ml and the median total Health Assessment Questionnaire score was 1.50±1.25. Pearson correlation analysis revealed statistical significant correlation between Health Assessment Questionnaire severity and anti-Citrulinated Cyclic Peptide levels (p=0.039) and Health Assessment Questionnaire score and anti-Citrulinated Cyclic Peptide levels (p=0.016). Conclusion: There was significant correlation between Health Assessment Questionnaire severity and anti-Citrulinated Cyclic Peptide levels.

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