| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 8
| Issue : 1 | Page : 14-18 |
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Assessing the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on quality of life in a group of patients attending a rheumatology clinic in Sri Lanka
Geetha Wagishwarie Gayanie Wickrematilake1, Lalith S Wijeratne2
1 Senior Registrar in Rheumatology, National Hospital, Sri Lanka
2 Consultant Rheumatologist, National Hospital, Sri Lanka
Correspondence Address:
Geetha Wagishwarie Gayanie Wickrematilake
Senior Registrar in Rheumatology, National Hospital, Sri Lanka
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.1016/j.injr.2012.12.003
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Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a worldwide distribution affecting 0.5e3% of the population. We used Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) to assess the quality of life (QOL) in a sample of patients with RA. Disability assessment component of the HAQ; the HAQ-DI, assesses a patient's level of functional ability and has been validated and used in clinical trials extensively.
Objective: To find the impact of illness on quality of life, in a sample of patients with RA using HAQ, and to calculate the HAQ-DI. Additionally, to find the age distribution and relationship of HAQ-DI with VAS, DAS28 and duration of illness.
Methodology: A self administered questionnaire was used in a random sample of 100 patients attending a rheumatology clinic. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS statistical package version 17 (SPSS Institute, Chicago).
Results: We had a 100% female population with mild disease [HAQ-DI (0e<1)] in 62% of patients, while severe disease (�2 and ::;3) was found in 5%. RA prevalence was highest in 41e50 years group (mean age ± SD ¼ 50.8 ± 11.5 years). VAS had a positive correlation with HAQ-DI. Relationship of HAQ-DI and DAS28 was not statistically significant ( p ¼ 0.72), although there was a positive correlation between DAS28 and HAQ-DI in disease duration more than 5 years group (r ¼ 0.19). Mean HAQ score was the highest in more than 10 years disease duration population ( p ¼ 0.006).
Conclusion: In a busy clinic setting, simple parameters like disease duration and VAS give an indication about the functional effect of illness on a patient's quality of life. |
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