Relation between Handgrip Strength and Quality of Life in Patients with Arthritis in Korea: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2018.

So-Youn Chang,Byoung-Duck Han,Seok Kang,Kyung-Do Han,Hyo-Jin Park

doi:10.3390/medicina58020172

Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and quality of life (QOL) in patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and Methods: We enrolled 13,966 from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2015 to 2018. All participants underwent the health-related QOL assessment using the European Quality of Life Scale-Five dimensions (EQ-5D) and measured the HGS. The weak HGS was defined as the lowest quartile. We investigated the difference in QOL between patients with arthritis and the healthy control group and evaluated the correlation between weak HGS and QOL in arthritis patients. Results: Those diagnosed with OA or RA had significantly lower QOL than healthy controls. The weak HGS was significantly correlated with lower QOL in arthritis patients. Among OA patients, those with weak HGS revealed significantly higher odds ratios for impairment in all dimensions of EQ-5D. RA patients with weak HGS had significantly higher odds ratios for impairment in dimensions of mobility, self-care, usual activity, and pain/discomfort than those with normal HGS. Conclusions: These results suggest that weak HGS is significantly associated with decreased QOL in patients with arthritis.

Highlights

Arthritis has a high prevalence worldwide and is a major public health problem [1,2]
Geryk et al reported that the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with OA and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was significantly worse than that of the general United States population
This study aimed to explore the effect of muscle strength on the QOL of patients diagnosed with arthritis

Summary

Introduction

Arthritis has a high prevalence worldwide and is a major public health problem [1,2]. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of unknown cause characterized by synovial inflammation, hyperplasia, autoantibody production, destruction of cartilage and bone, and systemic illnesses such as skeletal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and psychological disorders [5] Both diseases cause pain, stiffness, deformity, and decreased functional ability, leading to limitations in activities of daily living and psychological problems [2,6]. Geryk et al reported that the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with OA and RA was significantly worse than that of the general United States population. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and quality of life (QOL) in patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The weak HGS was significantly correlated with lower QOL in arthritis patients. Conclusions: These results suggest that weak HGS is significantly associated with decreased QOL in patients with arthritis

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