Introduction:

Rheumatic diseases are high prevalence, high impact and repercussion pathologies characterised by pain and functional limitation. To assess the limitation, the starting point is the clinical history, together with the specific tests required according to the type of condition. The use of complimentary clinometric tools is recommended.

Objective:

To compare some tools or questionnaires used in the most prevalent rheumatic diseases, and a review of the literature to highlight their contributions and usefulness in medical practice by the clinician or expert.

Method:

A review is made of the basic characteristics of the questionnaires and the most used tools in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The experience of the authors is reviewed in Medline, with some questionnaires depending on the pathology and its various uses.

Results:

The questionnaires are used mainly to assess the quality of life, disability, and clinical-therapeutic evolution of patients. There is no agreement among the authors on whether there is a priority in the use of a specific questionnaire by pathology, and there is a tendency to combine several. The most commonly used generic questionnaires are SF-36, NHP and EQ-5D. For diseases: in rheumatoid arthritis, the HAQ and DAS28; in osteoarthritis, WOMAC and Knoos; in lupus, SLEDAI and BICLA; and in spondylitis, BASDAI and ASDAS.

Conclusions:

In rheumatology, questionnaires are commonly used, and are useful as a complement to the clinical history and specific tests. The choice by the medical professional is based on their experience and on the adaptation to the objective sought.

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