The Impact of Demographic and Psychosocial Characteristics on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Early Inflammatory Joint Complaints

BACKGROUND
Health related quality of life (HR-QoL) differs among patients with early inflammatory joint complaints from disease onset onwards, which clinical characteristics cannot fully explain.
PURPOSE
To identify demographic and psychosocial characteristics that contribute to differences in health related quality of life in patients with early inflammatory joint complaints.
METHODS
Patients were included in the Rotterdam Early Arthritis CoHort (REACH) if inflammatory joint complaints existed for less than 12 months. Data collection of this cross-sectional study included disease characteristics, demographics, life style, behavioral coping (CORS), perceived health control (MHLC) and social support (ISB). HR-QoL was assessed by the 8 dimensions of the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the impact of disease related, demographic, life-style and psychosocial characteristics on HR-QoL.
RESULTS
In total, 361 patients were included, of which 24% were classified as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 34% as (non-RA) mono- or oligo/poly arthritis and 42% as inflammatory arthropathy without synovitis. Figure 1 presents scores for self reported health. The variation in HR-QoL dimensions among patients could be explained for 1%-6% by diagnostic group, disease duration, and comorbidity. The combined demographic and psychosocial characteristics explained 24%-32% of the variation. Reduced health on various dimensions was associated with younger age, non-Dutch parents, lower education, passive behavioral coping with pain, low perceived health control, and low social support.
CONCLUSIONS
Differences in HR-QoL are more influenced by demographic and psychosocial characteristics than by diagnostic group in patients with early inflammatory joint complaints. Physicians should be aware that certain aspects of HR-QoL are not only affected by diagnosis or well known demographic characteristics, but also by behavioral coping, perceived health control and social support.

This study was supported by The Dutch Arthritis Association
REFERENCE
(1)Picavet HS, N Hoeymans. Ann Rheum Dis, 2004, 63(6):723-9.

 G.A. Geuskens, None; A. Burdorf, None; A.W. Evers, None; J.M. Hazes, None.