Background/Purpose: Arthritis-attributable interference (AAI) in routine life activities are indicators of quality-of-life (QOL) that have not often been studied in a population-based sample of U.S. adults with arthritis. The purpose of this study is to estimate, among people with arthritis, the proportion and number with AAI in four routine life activity domains (1. recreation, leisure, and hobbies; 2. household chores; 3. errands and shopping; and 4. normal social activities), as well as the proportion affected among those with select characteristics.
Methods: Data were from ACHES, a cross-sectional, random digit dialed national telephone survey of non-institutionalized U.S. adults ≥ 45 years with self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis conducted in 2005-06. All respondents (n=1,793) confirmed a diagnosis of arthritis from a health professional. AAI for the first 3 life activity domains was asked by: “During the past 7 days, how much did your arthritis or joint symptoms interfere with the following activities?” AAI in the fourth domain used a 30-day recall; responses for all 4 questions were: a lot, a little, or not at all. For analysis across the 4 activity domains, a composite measure of AAI was created with three mutually exclusive subgroups: substantial (“a lot” in ≥1 domain), modest (“a little” in ≥1 domain), and none (no interference in any domain). The proportion of adults in each of these subgroups was examined overall and by demographics, clinical measures, and psychological factors. Weighted proportions and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated accounting for the complex sample design (SAS 9.2).
Results: AAI (a lot, a little) was reported by more than half of respondents in each of the 4 life activity domains and was highest for household chores (68%) and recreation/leisure/hobbies (65%). The proportion of U.S. adults ≥45 years with arthritis who reported any degree of composite AAI in routine life activities was 79% (29.9 million) (substantial AAI = 38% (14.3 million); modest AAI = 41% (15.6 million)). Only 21% (7.8 million) reported no AAI. Substantial AAI was significantly higher in women compared with men (42% vs. 31%) but similar by age and race/ethnicity. Substantial AAI was significantly lower among those with high confidence in ability to manage arthritis symptoms. The proportion with substantial AAI by select characteristics was > 50% for those with: severe fatigue (74%), severe joint stiffness (69%), severe joint pain (68%), anxiety (61%), depression (68%), low confidence in managing arthritis symptoms (65%), and those currently seeing a doctor or healthcare provider (51%).
Conclusion: Severe arthritis symptoms identify patients with substantial interference in routine life activities, but other characteristics (above) may identify additional patients who can benefit from interventions to preserve QOL. Controlling arthritis symptoms medically, in combination with referrals for evidence-based self-management education and physical activity programs, may reduce AAI in these important life activity domains and help address the large and growing public health problem of arthritis and its related QOL impacts.
Disclosure:
K. A. Theis,
None;
T. J. Brady,
None;
C. G. Helmick,
None;
L. Murphy,
None;
K. E. Barbour,
None.
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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/arthritis-attributable-interference-in-routine-life-activities/