[Quality of life and activity of disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) considering their age, activity of the disease, its duration and radiological stage.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 151 women (mean age 55.0 years, mean duration of RA 9.4 years) and 45 men (mean age 55.0 years, mean duration of RA 9.4 years). All subjects were treated at the Department of Rheumatology and at the SPSK-1 rheumatology outpatient clinic in Szczecin. Diagnosis of RA was established according to ARA criteria of 1987. The radiological stage of the disease was established according to Steinbrocker's criteria. The patient's quality of life was evaluated with the Health Assessment Questionnaire. The activity of RA was determined with the Disease Activity Score DAS 28.


RESULTS
Significant correlation between HAQ score and DAS 28 was found (correlation coefficient--R = 0.38; p < 0.001). Age (R = 0.31, p < 0.001) and radiological stage of RA (R = 0.26, p < 0.001) were also found to affect the quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis is significantly influenced by their age, activity of the disease, and radiological stage of RA.
Prajs
Krzysztof
K
Klinika Reumatologii Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej ul. Unii Lubelskiej 1, 71-252 Szczecin.
Fliciński
Jacek
J
Brzosko
Iwona
I
Przepiera-Bedzak
Hanna
H
Ostanek
Lidia
L
Brzosko
Marek
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001175:Arthrography; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires