Evaluation of quality of life in chronic, progressing rheumatic diseases based on the example of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis 

Abstract

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.

Knowledge and selected variables as determinants of the quality of life and general health of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

“…[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] The lower number of points in the PCS domain in comparison to the MCS domain may indicate that RA affects more the physical than the mental sphere as indicated by other authors. 21,23,24 It was also shown that the quality of life of patients with RA depends on many factors of physical, mental and social functioning sphere.…”

“…[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] The lower number of points in the PCS domain in comparison to the MCS domain may indicate that RA affects more the physical than the mental sphere as indicated by other authors. 21,23,24 It was also shown that the quality of life of patients with RA depends on many factors of physical, mental and social functioning sphere. 17,[19][20][21][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Studies conducted by many authors have shown that poorer functioning of the respondents in the physical sphere is conditioned by the duration of the disease.…”

“…17,[19][20][21][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Studies conducted by many authors have shown that poorer functioning of the respondents in the physical sphere is conditioned by the duration of the disease. 18,24,26,28,30 Studies by Baloglu et al and Wisłowska et al did not confirm this dependence. 20,31 In our study, the worse results in the PF domain and the PCS scale were related to age of the respondents, which has also been indicated by other authors.…”

Comparison of pain behaviour and osteoarthritis progression between anterior cruciate ligament transection and osteochondral injury in rat models

“… 2 The common clinical features of OA include joint pain, swelling, stiffness and crepitation, with loss of joint function that results in a reduced quality of life in patients. 3 In approximately 12% of patients, OA may be secondary to an underlying condition, including prior joint injury, abnormal mechanical loading (i.e. bowed legs), an inflammatory arthropathy such as gout, and metabolic conditions such as diabetes.…”

Vitamin D supplementation in patients with rheumatic diseases – the process of making a meta-analysis, its adversities and learningsVitamin D supplementation in patients with rheumatic diseases – the process of making a meta-analysis, its adversities and learnings

“…For example, when Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is active, it may course with kidney failure, myocarditis and seizures, which can lead to death, but also compromise short and long-term functionality and quality of life. Rheumatoid Arthritis, on the other hand, poses less life-threatening complications, but is one of the most limiting rheumatologic diseases 17 . It is also important to stress that accessible specific therapeutic targeting molecular structures are not available 18 .…”