To compile a simple questionnaire, named 'Foot Health Questionnaire-1' (FHQ1), which would evaluate the state of the foot in rheumatic diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Sixty-three consecutive subjects entered the study: 25 with RA; 14 with OA; 10 with CTD and 14 healthy control subjects.
It was possible to establish that the highest mean value of FHQ1 refers to RA patients (median FHQ1 value, 41) and OA patients (median FHQ1 value, 37) whereas for CTD patients the mean value was 14 and for healthy subjects was = 0, as expected. It results that 72% of RA patients and 65% of OA patients enter classes III and IV of FHQ1, whereas 70% of CTD patients were in class I.
An evaluation questionnaire regarding the algo-functioning of the foot could be a useful tool in routine rheumatologic clinical practice.