Association of depression and disability with health related quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disorder with frequent psychological comorbidities. Depression is also associated with increased functional disability in RA patients. Objective: To determine the association of depression and disability with health related quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in which 143 patients having rheumatoid arthritis were taken from the Islamabad rheumatology centers during period of 1st August 2019 to 30th January 2020 using non probability purposive sampling technique. All the diagnosed patients of Rheumatoid arthritis both male and female between age 35 and 60 were included in this study whereas patients with any other comorbidity were excluded. Chi square test was applied to determine the association. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: In this study level of disability as measured by health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQDI) out of 143 patients, (48.95%) patients experienced mild disability, 58 (40.55%) and 15(10.48%) patients presented with moderate and severe disability respectively. Results of severity of depression as measured by beck depression inventory scale (BDI) were: 23(16.1%) patients had mild depression, 22 (15.4%) patients had moderate depression, and 15 (10.4%) patients had severe depression. Association of disability and depression with health related quality of life (HRQOL) was significant with p<0.05. Conclusion: It is concluded that there is significant association of disability and depression with health related quality of life among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.