Abstract
ObjectivesFor patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China, little is known of how their illness perceptions affect their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The present study investigated associations between specific illness perceptions due to RA and HRQoL features.MethodsFor 191 patients with RA, illness perceptions were measured using the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (BIPQ) comprising 8 domains. HRQoL was determined with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed.ResultsThe overall BIPQ of patients with RA was 49.09 ± 11.06. The highest and lowest scores were for concern (9.15 ± 1.81) and personal control (4.30 ± 2.52), respectively. Multivariate stepwise regression analyses showed that the overall BIPQ was significantly negatively associated with each HRQoL feature, and HRQoL total score (β = − 0.343, P < 0.001, 95% CI − 7.080 to − 4.077). Positive associations between BIPQ features and HRQoL included personal control (β = 0.119, P = 0.004, 95% CI 2.857–14.194) and treatment control (β = 0.084, P = 0.029, 95% CI 0.640–12.391). Negative associations with HRQoL were identity (β = − 0.105, P = 0.034, 95% CI − 13.159 to − 0.430) and emotional response (β = − 0.207, P < 0.001, 95% CI − 18.334 to − 6.811).ConclusionsPatients with RA in China perceive their illness in ways that affect their HRQoL. These results suggest that strategies that target these perceptions may improve the quality of life of these patients.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease characterized by symmetric polyarticular arthritis
The present study found that patients older than 45 years had significantly lower scores for physical function, vitality, and social functioning compared with younger patients
The present analysis showed that age was negatively associated with physical function, bodily pain, general health perception, vitality, and social functioning
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease characterized by symmetric polyarticular arthritis It is the most common autoimmune disease. To understand the individualized course of chronic diseases, there has been growing interest in common sense models These tested models suggest that the patient’s perception of illness, that is, their own cognitive and emotional responses, direct their response to that illness [5,6,7,8,9]. Individuals actively try to make sense of their symptoms and form personal beliefs about their illness. These beliefs, in turn, determine their subsequent coping behavior and quality of life [10]
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