The prevalence of depression/anxiety among patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship with quality of life; [Učestalost depresije/anksioznosti i njena povezanost sa kvalitetom života kod bolesnika sa reumatoidnim artritisom]

Abstract

Background/Aim. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is accompanied by numerous comorbidities, among which depression and anxiety (D/A) occupy a significant place. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of D/A in RA patients and the relationship with their quality of life (QoL). Methods. The study included RA patients treated at the Rheumatology Clinic of the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade, Serbia in the period from May to November 2016. Disease activity was assessed by the Disease Activity Score 28-SE (DAS28-SE). D/A was determined using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire and European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire Question 5. Three questionnaires were used to assess QoL: the general RAND 36-item Health Survey 1.0 (RAND36), the specific Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RAQoL) and EQ-5D-3L. Results. Based on the HADS questionnaire, the prevalence of depression was 52% with the average HADS score value of 7.6 ± 3.2, while the prevalence of anxiety was 32% with the mean HADS score value of 5.8 ± 3.8. Question 5 of the EQ-5D questionnaire showed that the © 2022 Inst. Sci. inf., Univ. Defence in Belgrade. All rights reserved.