Description

Cattalini et al developed the Chronic Arthritis Score to evaluate a child with musculoskeletal complaints. This can help to identify a child likely to develop a chronic arthritis.The authors are from the University of Brescia and University of Siena in Italy.


 

Patient selection: pediatric with musculoskeletal complaint

 

Parameters:

(1) joint swelling

(2) precipitating factors

(3) morning stiffness

(4) pain frequency

Parameter

Finding

Points

joint swelling

none

0

 

single episode

1.654

 

less than 1 episode per month

0.318

 

more than 1 episode per month

-2.194

 

persistent

5.324

precipitating factors

rest

-18.202

 

activity

-37.892

 

infection

-42.145

 

trauma

-44.859

 

nonspecific

-20.731

morning stiffness

none

0

 

less than 1 hour

0.484

 

more than 1 hour

1.992

pain frequency

none

0

 

single episode

-15.358

 

less than 1 episode per month

-14.284

 

more than 1 episode per month

0.635

 

persistent

3.148

 

where:

• The breakpoints do not allow for 1 episode or 1 per hour.

• The more than one episode per month could be from 2 to 25 per month.

 

X =

= SUM(points for all 4 parameters) + 15.735

 

probability of chronic arthritis =

= 1/ (1 + EXP((-1) * X))

 

Performance:

• The authors report a sensitvity of 91% and specificity of 95%.

 


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