EARLY RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - SOME SOCIAL, ECONOMICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL-ASPECTS

Physical, psychological, and social features were assessed with standa rdized methods in 84 early RA patients followed prospectively for 2 ye ars. During this time disease activity decreased, and disability evalu ated by HAQ remained small. Psychological distress measured by SCL-90 (Symptom Check List) was in general not very pronounced and fairly sta ble over time. A high pain level at baseline provided a 4 times higher risk for a high level of psychological distress after 2 years. The pr evalence of early retirement was 37% at the end of the study. Physical demanding work and a high initial HAQ score were the best predictors of work disability, increasing the risk of not working 10.7 and 5.5 ti mes, respectively. At least 28% of patients had lower annual income co mpared to the year before disease onset. The ability to do shopping, h ome work, leisure time activities and social activities were negativel y influenced by the disease in more than half of the patients. The soc ial and economical consequences were thus considerable in the early st ages of RA.