Recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis: a 1-year observational study of correlations between health-related quality of life and clinical/laboratory data.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse correlations within and between clinical/laboratory assessments and health-related quality of life variables for recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis at the time of diagnosis and 12 months later.


METHODS
A total of 297 patients with recent-onset (< or =12 months) rheumatoid arthritis were included at diagnosis and followed up for 12 months. Clinical/laboratory assessment was performed by erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, 28-joint count of tender/swollen joints, physician's global assessment, grip force, grip ability, functional impairment and walking speed. The self-reported health-related quality of life included symptoms (pain, morning stiffness), patients estimated general health, Health Assessment Questionnaire and SF-36.


RESULTS
All tested variables improved within 6 months of diagnosis and then remained stable but still affected at the 12-month follow-up. Multivariate correlations between clinical/laboratory variables and health-related quality of life were weak. At inclusion, clinical/laboratory assessments explained 18% of health-related quality of life at the same time-point and predicted 7% of the variation in health-related quality of life after 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The time-course followed similar patterns for most variables, but only a small part of the variation in health-related quality of life was explained or predicted by the clinical/laboratory variables. This implies that health-related quality of life adds important information to clinical/laboratory assessments in clinical practice and should be considered in goal setting together with clinical/laboratory assessment in order to optimize healthcare and outcome.
Thyberg
Ingrid
I
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/AIR, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden. ingrid.thyberg@lio.se
Skogh
Thomas
T
Hass
Ursula A M
UA
Gerdle
Björn
B
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires