BackgroundRheumatic diseases, irrespective of etiology and clinical course, influence different areas of a patient’s life. Adapting to disability and limitations caused by an illness is very difficult for many patients. The main goal of a therapeutic procedure should be improvement of health-related quality of life (QoL).ObjectiveEvaluation of the factors that influence the QoL that are conditioned by the state of health of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsThe study group consisted of 198 patients diagnosed with OA, according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria (1988), and 100 patients diagnosed with RA, according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria (2010). A diagnostic survey using visual analog scale of pain, health assessment questionnaire disability index, and 36-item short form health survey were used in this study.ResultsThe average age of patients with OA was 59.16 (±15.87) years and patients with RA was 55.22 (±14.87) years. The average duration of illness examined for OA was 5.5 (±4.32) years, whereas for RA, it was slightly more at 6.8 (±5.21) years. Overall the QoL in both study groups was of medium level. Among patients with OA and RA, lower evaluation of QoL was mainly affected by age (OA – physical sphere [PCS] rs=−0.177, P<0.012; MCS rs=−0.185, P=0.008; RA – PCS rs=−0.234, P=0.019; MCS rs=−0.208, P=0.038), the level of physical disability (OA – PCS rp=−0.532, P<0.001; MCS rs=−0.467, P<0.001; RA – PCS rp=−0.326, P<0.001; MCS rs=−0.229, P<0.001), and pain (OA – PCS rp=−0.425, P<0.001; mental sphere/mental functioning (MCS) rs=−0.359, P<0.001; RA – PCS rp=−0.313, P<0.001; MCS rp=−0.128, P<0.001).ConclusionPatients with OA, despite their average older age, had a higher evaluated QoL than patients with RA. Overall QoL in terms of mental functioning in both rheumatic diseases was assessed at a higher level than in the area of physical functioning.
IntroductionOsteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common causes of musculoskeletal system’s ailments. In the prevention of the disease and in its comprehensive treatment, proper health-related behavior becomes an extremely important factor for maintaining an optimal health condition. The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between the reported pain and the disability level, and the health-related behaviors undertaken by OA patients as well as their acceptance of the disease.Materials/MethodsThe study group consisted of 198 patients with diagnosed OA, according to ACR criteria (1988). The method used in the study employed a Pain VAS (0-10), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ DI 0-3), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS 8-40) and Health and Behavior Inventory (IZZ 24-120).ResultsThe average age among respondents with OA has been 59.16 years of age (±15.87), duration of disease 5.5 years (±4.32). Pain experienced both during movement (rs = 0.319, p < 0.001) and at rest (rs = 0.382, p < 0.001) correlated positively with physical disability (HAQ DI). Studies indicated a positive linear correlation between the age and physical disability (rs = 0.200, p = 0.005). Acceptance of the disease (AIS) depends mostly on age (rs = − 0.325, p < 0.001), on pain in motion (rp = − 0.209, p < 0.001) and at rest (rp = − 0.218, p < 0.001) and on the disability levels (rp = − 0.353, p < 0.001). Analysis of the health-related behaviors (IZZ) indicates that the average severity of declared behavior is statistically significant with physical disability (HAQ DI) (p = 0.029).ConclusionsThe acceptance of illness is significantly reduced with age and progressive levels of disability as well as with the severity of pain. The progressive levels of disability and the younger age of the respondents motivate them to engage in health beneficial behavior.
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