PGA
Also written as: PGA — Physician Global Assessment
Physician Global Assessment, a standardized visual analog scale used to rate overall disease activity in pediatric rheumatic conditions.
Full Definition
The Physician Global Assessment (PGA) is a key component of composite disease activity measures in pediatric rheumatology, typically scored on a 0-100mm visual analog scale or 0-10 numeric rating scale. The treating physician rates the patient's overall disease activity considering all clinical and laboratory information available at the time of assessment. PGA provides a holistic view of disease status that incorporates clinical judgment beyond objective measures, making it an essential component of validated assessment tools like JADAS. The score reflects the physician's expert opinion of how active the patient's disease is at that moment, considering both current symptoms and recent disease trajectory.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from PaGA (Patient/Parent Global Assessment) - both are components of composite scores but represent different perspectives.
In Context
- "The PGA score of 15mm indicated low disease activity despite elevated inflammatory markers." — Clinical assessment
- "Discordance between the PGA and objective measures prompted further evaluation for subclinical disease activity." — Case discussion