DETERMINATION OF THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background: This study aimed to determine the effect of clinical symptoms, disease activites, laboratory values, radiographical damages, functional statuses, levels of physical activity, psychological functions and perceived social support on health-related quality of life in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Material and method: The study included 60 RA patients and 60 healthy control subjects. The demographic characteristics of all patients were recorded. The health-related quality of life was evaluated using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey Questionnaire. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to determine the level of pain and fatigue in the patients with RA while Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) was used in determining disease activity. The radiographic damage was measured by Larsen radiographic scoring. The functional capacity, depression symptoms, physical activity level and perceived social support of the patients were evaluated by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results: All SF-36 subparameters were measured lower in RA patients than control group patients (p<0.001). The factors that affect SF-36 subparameters were evaluated using linear regression analysis. Physical function was found affected by variables such as body mass index (BMI), VAS-pain, VAS-fatigue and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), on the other hand emotional role, general and mental health were affected by only BDI scores whereas social role may vary depending on evaluation of MSPSS score as well as BDI score. Besides, body pain and vitality were found sensitive to the parameters such as VAS-pain and VAS-fatigue, respectively. No correlation was detected between health-related quality of life and disease activity, duration, levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF), levels of physical activity and radiographic damage. Conclusion: RA affects health-related quality of life in the patients. One of the main purposes of treatment for RA is to increase quality of life; managment of pain, fatigue and psychological variables should be regularly evaluated and a symptom targeted treatment should be regulated.