Aim: This study investigated loss of productivity of working women and housewives with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and analyzed the correlation of this loss with disease activity parameters and health-related quality of life.
Material and Methods: The study enrolled consecutive patients presenting to rheumatology outpatient clinic between April 2016 and September 2016 who met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) RA classification criteria. Disease activity with the Disease Activity Score (DAS-28) as it pertains to C-reactive protein (CRP), functional status with the Duruöz hand index, activities of daily life with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and health-related quality of life with the short-form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire.
Results: This study included 82 RA patients (56 women, 26 men) who were followed in our rheumatology outpatient clinic, and 29 healthy controls (24 women, 5 men) who were patient accompanists and patient visitors. We found no difference between housewives and employed women with RA in terms of disease activity, productivity in daily activities, anxiety, or depression, but patients with RA had higher pain, fatigue, and anxiety scores than healthy controls. Loss of productivity in daily activities was found to be correlated with disease activity and fatigue.
Conclusions: In conclusion, disease activity, quality of life, and functional status are equally important in RA patients who work as housewives or in the workforce. Emotional status has an impact, especially on increasing productivity and participation in daily life, and doctors should also examine their patients from this perspective.
Key words: Rheumatoid Arthritis; Work Dsiability; Quality of Life.
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