Quality of life self-assessment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, progressive and autoimmune disease which damaged the same joints on both sides of the body. Therefore, it has been negatively affecting patients’ quality of life, physical function for long period of time, and life expectancy. Purpose: To estimate self-assessed quality of life (QOL) of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, according to the classification of the functional activities. Materials and methods: In this study was used a cross sectional study design to performed the QOL of 120 RA patients at the rheumatology private clinic in Ulaanbaatar, from June 1 to July 1 and from October 1 to November 1, 2019. For the evaluation of the quality of the life of RA patients we used guideline in self-assessed quality of life. The patients’ functional activities status was assessed according to the revised criteria for the classification of functional activities of the RA patients by American College of Rheumatology in 1991 year. The mean, median, standard deviations, frequency of the findings were calculated using by a descriptive analysis of the STATA 12 program. Result: In the study, majority of patients were women, as 102 patients (85%) and the mean age (SD) of study population was 47.1 (±8.9) years. The study was showed that the mainly of the RA patients 82 (68%) were unemployment and almost of half of the involved in this study RA patients (54) were under the disability pension. The self-assessed quality of life was estimated regarding to functional activities status, class I (n=24)-0.71, II (n=70)-1.15, III (n=21)-1.45 and IV (n=5)1.89. Concluding previous result that the QOL of patients were “definitely worsened” in class I and II, nevertheless it will be recover based on the treatment. The QOL of patients was “need additional care” in class III and patients in class IV deteriorated, and they need permanent caregiver. Conclusion: 1. Most of the RA patients had moderate self-assessed quality of life 1.15(0.59) 2. According to the worsening of the functional activities status the RA patients had less self-assessed quality of life. Majority of RA patients, who were involved in this study, had class II of functional activities status.