Background of the Study: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease affecting joints of the hands, wrists, and knees. Rheumatoid arthritis has many physical and social consequences that can lower the quality of life. Moreover, RA affects many aspects of daily living. In this study, we aim to determine the functional health status and its association with selected demographic variablesof patients receiving biological therapy for rheumatoid arthritis at Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidallah hospital (IBHOH), Ras AlKhaimah, UAE.

Materials and Methods: A quantitative research approach with a descriptive observational survey design was used. Data were obtained from adult clients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria using the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Pain visual analog scale (P-VAS), and Global visual analog scale (G-VAS) tools to elicit demographic profile and functional disability index. Sample participation was voluntary, complying with the consent procedure in force, ensuring confidentiality and anonymity. A total of 100 valid responses were obtained. Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze the frequency and percentage distribution of sociodemographic variables of the patients. Chi-square and Fischer’s exact tests were used to assess any association between demographic variables and functional health status.

Major findings of the Study: Among 100 patients were studied, of which (89%) were females, and (11%) were males, (10%) of them were aged between 20 – 30 years, (17%) between 31–40 years, (25%) between 41 – 50 years, (19%) between 51 – 60 years, and (29%) between 60 – 65 years. Most of the patients were on biological therapy from 1 – 12 months (29%), [median 36 months and range 2- 180 months]. The most frequently prescribed biological therapy was Adalimumab (21% of patients) and Etanercept was the second most frequently prescribed (13% of patients), followed by Tofacitinib (12% of patients) and Tocilizumab (10% of patients). The results showed a mean (SD) of 0.8775 (0.7797104) and a median (0.75) of the functional disability index. The data showed that mostof the patients had mild to moderate functional disability (46%); (25%) had moderate to severe disability, (18%) of patients had No functional disability, and (11%) had severe to very severe functional disability. The majority of patients (45%) had mild pain, (33%) and (13%) had moderate and severe pain correspondingly (median P-VAS 30, mean 32, and range 0 - 100). Furthermore, most of the patients (54%) reported mild disease effects on their global health, (33%) reported moderate effects, and (13%) severe effects