Comparison of the quality of life in patients with early and long-term rheumatoid arthritis (Preprint)
BACKGROUND The research interest is the study of the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis of different duration. OBJECTIVE The aim of study was to compare the quality of life in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) against patients with long-term RA. METHODS The study included 164 participants: 114 outpatients with early RA, and 50 outpatients with long-term RA. Assessment of life quality in patients with RA detected impaired parameters of the HAQ, SF-36, QOL-RA Scale already during the first year of the disease. RESULTS The HAQ test found a comparable frequency of severe functional disorders in patients with early and long-term RA. According to the SF-36 questionnaire, patients with early RA suffered from physical pain than patients with long-term RA. The QOL-RA Scale demonstrated that patients in the early stages of the disease, the lowest scores for the "arthritis" and "joint pain", and participants with long-term RA for "health" also. CONCLUSIONS Results indicated that these questionnaires may be used for scientific purposes to identify the most susceptible parameters of the quality of life and to provide benefits for monitoring health status and correct choice of drugs. CLINICALTRIAL The Scientific Council of the Orenburg State Medical Academy (currently the University) approved research in 2005 year (Protocol No. 5). All patients gave their written consent to participate in the scientific study.