Background/Purpose: Treat to target (T2T) strategy has been widely recognized as effective and leading to better outcomes. There have been no questions regarding its theoretical bases however its applicability in clinical practice is challenged, particularly when audit researches on patient files are reported. Composite indices of disease activity, cornerstones of T2T strategy, should be regularly applied in therapeutic decision making and readily available. Therefore were  included as desirable but not as a mandatory item in association with a questionnaire dealing with patients perspectives and barriers to T2T implementation while information about social-economical and educational patient´s backgrounds were totally compulsory. The aim of this study was to analyze the availability of composite indices of disease activity and its optional inclusion in a data base with a different focus.

Methods: the data collected by 11 investigators committed to T2T strategy in different areas of the country, in rural and urban settings, in public academic centers and in private practice were reviewed regarding the noncompulsory inclusion of the composite measures of disease activity: DAS28, CDAI e SDAI.

Results: 485 RA patients were included in the database, 86% had DAS28 (mean=3.6±2,33) ;  53.4% SDAI(19.3±22.5) and 59% had CDAI(14.913.5). The percentages of patients with composite indices collected in each center are depicted below as well the percentage of patients in private practice(last column):

Conclusion: DAS28 was easily obtained in the vast majorities of cases; PCR dosage was the great obstacle to SDAI application. In the absence of laboratory tests CDAI was applied by some investigators. Academic or private settings were not a factor.