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Quality of life, productivity higher in RA remission vs. low disease activity
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Patients with rheumatoid arthritis in remission had better function, health-related quality of life and work productivity compared with patients with low disease activity, according to recent study results.
Researchers in Austria collected data on 356 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA; mean age, 59.9 years; 79.8% women), including physical function, health-related quality of life, work productivity, and estimation of direct and indirect costs. Using Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), patients were classified as remission (REM; SDAI ≤3.3), low disease activity (LDA; 3.3<SDAI≤11), moderate disease activity (MDA; 11<SDA≤26) or high disease activity (HDA; SDAI >26). Patients who moved between LDA and REM also were longitudinally assessed.
Patients achieving REM had the following differences when compared with LDA patients: health assessment questionnaire (0.39 ± 0.58 vs. 0.72 ± 0.68), work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire (percent impairment while working, 11.8 ± 18.7% vs. 26.8 ± 23.9%; percent of overall activity impairment, 10.8 ± 14.1% vs. 29 ± 23.6%), Euro Qol 5D (0.89 ± 0.12 vs. 0.78 ± 0.6) and Short Form 36 (physical component score, 46 ± 8.6 vs. 38.3 ± 10.5, mental component score [MCS], 49.9 ± 11.1 vs. 47.9 vs. 12.3) (P<.01 for all except MCS, P=.06).
“Regarding costs, we found significant differences of direct and indirect costs (P<.05) within different levels of disease activity, with higher costs in patients with higher states of disease activity,” the researchers reported. “Reaching remission seems to be a desirable state from patients’ as well as socioeconomic perspectives.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relative financial disclosures.
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