Many patients have been suggesting that traditional outcome measures and instruments do not capture all their experiences of living with their OA of the hips and knees, such like intermittent episodes or ‘flares’ of their disease. There are many other features beyond pain that can occur during these episodes, that have a big impact on their quality of life.

The key aim of the OA Flare Working Group is first, to identify the domains of Hip or Knee OA flare using OMERACT methodology. Second, to follow this with developing a composite measure, incorporating these domains.