Remission | No evidence of disease activity (such as morning stiffness, decreased energy, or active joints) |
Controlled | 1–2 active joints†, with no morning stiffness or decreased energy |
Smoldering | 3–4 active joints†, with increased morning stiffness, decreased energy level, or elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) |
Uncontrolled | > 4 active joints†, morning stiffness, and decreased energy or elevated ESR |
↵† Data collection allowed physicians to indicate only if a particular region was swollen or tender. An active joint region meant that at least 1 joint within a joint region (e.g., metacarpophalangeal joint) was swollen or tender at the time of examination.