Yoon BY, et al. – This research was planned to determine the discrepancy between perceived cognitive dysfunction and computerized neuropsychological test performance in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Accumulated data highlighted the gap between subjective and objective measures of cognitive impairment and the importance of considering psychological factors within the context of cognitive complaints in clinical settings.

• This study enrolled individuals with RA during follow-up visits at one hospital in Korea.
•  After getting signed consents, a trained research nurse evaluated participants with a range of physical, psychosocial, and biological metrics. 
• With the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ; range 0–20), subjective cognitive dysfunction was determined.
• Objective cognitive impairment was assessed using a set of 6 computerized neurocognitive tests yielding 12 indices covering a range of cognitive domains.
• Subjects were classified as ‘impaired’ if they performed 1 SD below age-based population norms on each test. 
• By summing the transformed scores (range 0–12), a total cognitive function score was calculated.
• Multiple linear regression analyses examined the relationship of total cognitive function score with PDQ score, controlling for disease activity, functional limitations, and psychological factors.
• 40 subjects (mean ± SD age: 63.1 ± 11.4 years) were enrolled.
• Mean ± SD scores of total cognitive function and PDQ were 7.3 ± 2.7 (2–12) and 11.8 ± 5.1 (5–25), respectively.
•  In multivariate analysis, there was no significant relationship between total cognitive function score and PDQ score.
• However, depression and sleep quality (β = 0.37, p = 0.025; β = 0.17, p = 0.034) were significantly associated with PDQ score.