Psychological distress and fair/poor health among adults with arthritis: state-specific prevalence and correlates of general health status, United States, 2007.
OBJECTIVE
To: 1) estimate U.S. state-specific prevalence of serious psychological distress (SPD) and fair/poor health status (FPH), and 2) identify correlates of FPH among adults with arthritis (ARTH+).


METHODS
Data were from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 414,719). State-specific weighted prevalence estimates of SPD (> or = 13 on the Kessler 6 scale) and FPH status were calculated, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify correlates of FPH in four domains (physical health, mental health, sociodemographics, behaviors).


RESULTS
Prevalence of SPD and FPH were 2 and 3 times higher, respectively, among ARTH+ compared to those without. Among ARTH+, the state-specific prevalence of SPD ranged from 2.7 % to 12.2 % and FPH from 22.1 % to 43.5 %. Health behaviors (physical activity, smoking, heavy drinking) and physical health indicators (e.g. activity limitation, physically unhealthy days, co-morbidity) were the strongest correlates of FPH status. After adjustment, physically active ARTH+ were 50-66 % less likely to report FPH compared to inactive ARTH+.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychological distress and poor health status are common in arthritis; increasing physical activity may be an intervention point to improve health status.
Hootman
Jennifer M
JM
Arthritis Program, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. jhootman@cdc.gov
Cheng
Wendy Y
WY
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult