Arthritis, Chronic Conditions Associated With Lower Health-related Quality of Life

Issue: August 2017

Recently published results showed older adults with arthritis had a lower health-related quality of life, especially among those with at least one other common chronic condition.

Researchers identified 58,975 patients aged 65 years or older who responded to a health-related quality of life survey and Medicare Advantage coverage in November or December of 2014. Researchers used linear regression to compare mean physically, mentally and total unhealthy days among respondents with vs. without arthritis, as well as those among five comorbidity subgroups accounting for age, sex, dual Medicaid/Medicare eligibility, rural/urban commuting area and Charlson Comorbidity Index.

Results showed 44% of patients included had a diagnosis of arthritis. Of these patients, 50% had inflammatory arthritis and 53% had noninflammatory arthritis. Researchers noted significantly more adjusted mean physically, mentally and total unhealthy days among patients with arthritis vs. patients without arthritis.

At least one of five common chronic conditions were reported in 82% of patients, with hypertension as the most prevalent at 67%. This was followed by diabetes at 30%, coronary artery disease at 23%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 14% and congestive heart failure at 10%. After adjustment, researchers found significantly more total unhealthy days, physically and mentally unhealthy days and days with activity limitation among patients with arthritis and either congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes or hypertension vs. patients with the same chronic condition but no arthritis. – by Casey Tingle

Disclosures: Havens reports he is an employee of Humana Inc. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Havens E, et al. Prev Chronic Des. 2017;doi:10.5888/pcd14.160495.