Common Questions

What is RAlly?

RALLY: The National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB) is a project that collects data on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) directly from persons who have this illness. The goals of the project are to advance our knowledge about the causes, outcomes, costs, treatments, and results of treatments related to RA. Another important goal of the project is to stimulate data collection and study by health professionals, and make NDB data available for medical research.

What is the NDB

The National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB) is a research data bank for the study of arthritis and rheumatic conditions. The NDB project collects data on rheumatic conditions directly from persons who have these problems. The goals of the project are to advance knowledge about the causes, outcomes, costs, treatments, and results of treatments related to rheumatic conditions. Another important goal of the NDB project is to stimulate research and study by health professionals by making NDB data available for medical research.

How do I interpret the graphs?

The graph are called histograms. They show the percent of NDB participants with each possible score. For example, for pain, the possible scores are 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 all the way to 10.0. Along the left axis of the graph is the percent level. The greater the percent, the more NDB participants who have that score.

What is the average score for participants of my age, sex and diagnosis?

To get this score NDB searches its database for people only of your sex and diagnosis. Then it estimates what the average score would be if all of the participants were your age.

How do I know how to interpret my score?

If your score is much above or below average then you are doing better or worse than average. For pain, for example, you having more or less pain than average.

What is the SI Scale?

The SI scale is a measure of the intensity of fibromyalgia symptoms. All people, regardless of diagnosis have some fibromyalgia symptoms. For the SI scale these symptoms are the extent of pain and the severity of fatigue. For people who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the SI scale is a measure of their current fibromyalgia severity.

What can I do with these graphs?

You can use them to evaluate yourself or you can show them to you doctor.