Health Related Quality of Life among the Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is considered a public health problem with increasing global prevalence that reached 14.9 in 2017. In addition to impairment of daily life activities, individuals diagnosed with RA suffer from psychological disorders. Aim: The study aim was to assess the health related quality of life among the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: A descriptive exploratory design was utilized to conduct the current study. Data was collected from Rheumatology Clinics in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia over three months using a convenience sample of 300 adult patients attending Rheumatology Clinics diagnosed with RA. A self-report survey was used, and it encompassed a demographic data and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BRIEF) tool. Results: A total of 300 participants suffering from RA were participated in the study. Quality of life domains four domains along with overall quality of life mean scores were significantly low among the studied participants. Physical health was the lowest (19.89 out of 35 ± 7.04, p = 0.00) among the four domains, followed by psychological (21.22 out of 30 ± 5.73, p = 0.00), then environment (28.19 ± 8.72, p = 0.00) and lastly social relations (12.06 out of 15 ± 7.29, p = 0.00) which was rated as the highest among those domains. Overall quality of life mean score was perceived on low scores by participants (81.36 out of 120 ± 28.80, p = 0.00). Conclusion: Total mean scores of all quality of life domains were significantly rated as low by the studied participants with RA. Physical health was rated as the lowest among the four domains, followed by psychological, then environment and lastly social relations which was rated as the highest among those domains. Extreme of age, being divorced and low income were significantly associated with low rating of quality of life.