PEST (Psoriatic Arthritis Screening Tool)

PEST (Ibrahim 2009): five yes/no items (swollen joint, arthritis diagnosis, nail pits, heel pain, dactylitis); ≥ 3 refers for possible psoriatic arthritis.

Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.

Example

Ever had a swollen joint (or joints)?
Yes
A doctor ever told you that you have arthritis?
No
Do your nails have holes or pits?
Yes
Have you had pain in your heel?
Yes
A finger or toe completely swollen and painful (dactylitis)?
No

Result: PEST score 3 — positive (>= 3): refer for possible psoriatic arthritis.

The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.

What the result means

< 3
Negative screen.
>= 3
Positive: refer for possible psoriatic arthritis. 5 yes/no items. A screening tool, not a diagnosis.

What you enter

  • Ever had a swollen joint (or joints)?
  • A doctor ever told you that you have arthritis?
  • Do your nails have holes or pits?
  • Have you had pain in your heel?
  • A finger or toe completely swollen and painful (dactylitis)?
How this is calculated

Ibrahim GH, Buch MH, Lawson C, Waxman R, Helliwell PS. Evaluation of an existing screening tool for psoriatic arthritis in people with psoriasis: the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST). Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2009;27(3):469-474. Read the source ↗

A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.

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Built by Clay Good. Source on GitHub.