Minimally important difference in diffuse systemic sclerosis: Results from the D-penicillamine study

D. Khanna*, D. E. Furst, R. D. Hays, G. S. Park, W. K. Wong, J. R. Seibold, M. D. Mayes, B. White, F. F. Wigley, M. Weisman, W. Barr, L. Moreland, T. A. Medsger, V. D. Steen, R. W. Martin, D. Collier, A. Weinstein, E. V. Lally, J. Varga, S. R. WeinerB. Andrews, M. Abeles, P. J. Clements

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

128 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To estimate minimally important differences (MIDs) in scores for the modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) in a clinical trial on diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc). Participants and methods: 134 people participated in a 2-year, double-blind, randomised clinical trial comparing efficacy of low-dose and high-dose D-penicillamine in diffuse SSc. At 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, the investigator was asked to rate the change in the patient's health since entering the study: markedly worsened, moderately worsened, slightly worsened, unchanged, slightly improved, moderately improved or markedly improved. Patients who were rated as slightly improved were defined as the minimally changed subgroup and compared with patients rated as moderately or markedly improved. Results: the MID estimates for the mRSS improvement ranged from 3.2 to 5.3 (0.40-0.66 effect size) and for the HAQ-DI from 0.10 to 0.14 (0.15-0.21 effect size). Patients who were rated to improve more than slightly were found to improve by 6.9-14.2 (0.86-1.77 effect size) on the mRSS and 0.21-0.55 (0.32-0.83 effect size) on the HAQ-DI score. Conclusion: MID estimates are provided for improvement in the mRSS and HAQ-DI scores, which can help in interpreting clinical trials on patients with SSc and be used for sample size calculation for future clinical trials on diffuse SSc.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1325-1329
Number of pages5
JournalAnnals of the rheumatic diseases
Volume65
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2006

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Minimally important difference in diffuse systemic sclerosis: Results from the D-penicillamine study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this