To evaluate the performance of an instrument for predicting chronic chikungunya arthritis (CCA) in adult patients.A diagnostic test study was conducted and data from 217 confirmed cases of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) illness were analyzed. Two chronic chikungunya arthralgia scales (3-item CCAS-3 and 4-item CCAS-4) were constructed.Modest performance of the CCAS-3 scale was documented at the two given cut-off points. A CCAS-4 score ≥3 showed high sensitivity and specificity for predicting the persistence of CCA at 12 months after acute disease.If replicated in other populations, these results could be useful in the medical management of patients with symptomatic CHIKV infection.Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.