Quality of life in American Indian and White women with and without rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine quality of life (QOL) in American Indian and White women with and without rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study included 64 women in four groups: American Indians with rheumatoid arthritis, healthy American Indians, Whites with rheumatoid arthritis, and healthy Whites. Participants received evaluations of pain, joint motion, hand function, daily task performance, community participation, and QOL.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in QOL between the participants with rheumatoid arthritis and the healthy control groups but not between the American Indian and White groups. Current health and emotional-social function related to QOL in all groups. Dexterity also correlated with QOL in the two groups with rheumatoid arthritis. Performance of daily activities correlated with 0OL in all groups except the healthy White groups. Community participation did not correlate with COL.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that rheumatoid arthritis in American Indian and White women does affect COL and that QOL does not seem to be influenced by ethnicity. Factors that related to QOL also were similar for both groups with rheumatoid arthritis.
Poole
Janet L
JL
Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, MSC09 5240, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA. jpoole@salud.unm.edu
Chiappisi
Heather
H
Cordova
Jennifer Schukar
JS
Sibbitt
Wilmer
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D014481:United States; D044465:White People