Impact of illness and variables associated with functional impairment in Chinese patients with psoriatic arthritis

CER3426
2008 Vol.26, N°5
PI 0820, PF 0826
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PMID: 19032814 [PubMed]

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To assess the impact of disease and functional outcomes in Chinese patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to identify variables associated with poor functional outcomes.
METHODS:
A cross sectional study performed in 80 consecutive patients with PsA from a single center. Functional outcomes were assessed by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). Clinical variables included social-demographic characteristics and clinical features. Linear regression analyses were performed to identify variables associated with functional impairment.
RESULTS:
Thirty-six men and 44 women with mean (±SD) age and duration of arthritis of 48.6 (±13.0) and 10.2 (±6.9) years were studied. One-third reported PsA related unemployment and change in job nature. Another third experienced a reduction of income due to PsA. The median (IQR) HAQ and BASFI were 0.44 (1.09) and 2.1 (4.38). These functional scores correlated highly with each other and with the patient`s perception of health, but correlated only moderately or poorly with other disease activity variables. Multivariate analysis identified higher damaged joint count, poorer patients` perception of health, poor socioeconomic factor and higher CRP as factors associated with higher HAQ. Higher back pain score; higher CRP, higher damaged joint count and poor socioeconomic factor were associated with BASFI.
CONCLUSIONS:
PsA in Chinese subjects has had significant social-economic impact. Joint damage was found to be associated with functional impairment.