title: Important problems identified by patients with chronic arthritis.
abstract: To assess the impact of their illness on their whole life experience 345 patients with chronic arthritis were interviewed and completed a questionnaire. Four major sub-groups were identified--rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis and osteo-arthritis. Taking into account definite inter-group differences, the commonest problems were pain (65%), stiffness (61%), inability to do everyday tasks (43%) and sexual difficulties (31%). The implications these problems raise in clinical practice are discussed and some suggestions for a rehabilitation programme made.
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology*; D001887:Boredom; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D004651:Employment; D006073:Gout / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000523:psychology*