Quality of life assessment and its correlation with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that leads to synovial membrane inflammation & destruction of the synovial joints. Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional concept that is used to describe the individuals’ perceptions, satisfaction, and evaluation of different areas of their own lives. Objective: to assess the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on the quality of life of the patients & its correlation with disease activity & functional impairment. Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 60 RA patients. All patients were subjected to complete clinical examination & laboratory assessment. Disease activity had been assessed through Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28). Functional assessment by HAQ-DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index) was done. Quality of life assessment by: World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHO QoL BREF) and Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL). Sleep quality was assessed by PSQI. Results: There was significant negative correlation between QoL assessed by (WHO QoL BREF) & DAS. There was significant positive correlation between QoL assessed by RAQoL & DAS (P < 0.001), quality of sleep assessed by (PSQI) & DAS.