Impact of patients’ characteristics on quality of life of rheumatoid arthritis patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there would be a positive relationship between depression and quality of life of rheumatoid arthritic patients and also to determine whether patients’ characteristics (sex, marital status, level of education, and duration of illness) would impact quality of life of arthritic patients. Opinions of one hundred and seven arthritic patients (107) were purposively sampled from two hospital centres in Nigeria (Oyo State Hospital, Ade Oyo and Orthopedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos). This study which was an ex post facto design study made use of a battery of tests (Geriatric Depression Scale was used to measure depression and Quality of life Scale designed for chronic geriatric illness was used to measure quality of life of arthritic patients). Relationship between depression and quality of life was examined with Zero order correlation statistics while that of demographic variables and quality of life was calculated through Multiple Regression Analysis. Sociodemographic data revealed that females were 49 (45.8%), 42.0% were in the age range of 61-70 years of age, 68.2% were married, and 41% had B.Sc while 80.1% participants had one year duration of rheumatoid arthritis illness. It was found out that there was significant positive relationship between depression and quality of life (r = .329; P<.01) while only duration of illness (β=-.212; t=-2.268; p<.05) and level of education (β= -.405; t=4.579; p<.05) were independently impacting quality of life of arthritic patients. It can be concluded that depression had a significant positive relationship on the quality of life of rheumatoid arthritis patients, and that duration of illness and educational level impacted on the quality of life of arthritic patients. It was recommended that formal carers should be more awakened to the identified characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis patients which may be somehow elusive so that under treatment of depression in rheumatoid arthritis patients can be arrested.

Keywords: Quality of Life, Depression, demographic variables, rheumatoid arthritis