AB0288 Quality of Life and Professional Impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Authors: M. Jguirim, A. Mhenni, A. Mahfoudh, M. Mahjoub, L. Mani, S. Zrour, M. Younes, I. Béjia, M. Touzi, N. Bergaoui
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2015)

<h3>Background</h3> Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease causing progressive joint destruction with an important functional, social, psychological and vocational impairment. <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of our study was to evaluate the professional impact of the disease on the affected subject9s and to assess their quality of life. <h3>Methods</h3> We have conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of 50 patients with RA diagnosed in the Rheumatology Service of Monastir EPS between 1999 and 2013 according to the ACR1987 and EULAR 2010 criteria. The Work stoppage and the capacity of work on the one hand and the quality of life on the other were respectively measured by the WHO-HPQ, the WAI and HAQ. <h3>Results</h3> Half of our patients stopped definitively their professional activity because of their illness. It occurred at 5 years of evolution of the disease in the majority of cases. The working abandonment was found in 48% of the cases, invalidity in 28% of the cases, the early retirement in 12% of the cases and the long-term sick leave in 12% of the cases. Absence from work was observed in 84%, it was estimated at 38 hours a month. Using the WHO-HPQ, the average relative absenteeism during the last 4 weeks was 20% and the average relative presenteeism was 70%. Predictive factors of work stoppages were the means of transport between the place of residence and the workplace, the work sector, the professional category, the ESR and the presence of hip disease. Patients in professional activity had an average WAI score of 28, 80% of them had a poor to moderate capacity to work. The predictive factors of a poor work capacity were the type of profession, exposure to movements in hyperflexion, hyperextension of wrists and repetitive gestures, a high rate of absenteeism, a low rate of presenteeism and a high HAQ score. The quality of life of our patients was impaired. Indeed, the mean of the HAQ score was 1,65, this score was superior to 0,5 in 88% of the cases classifying them as carriers of a severe physical disability. The predictive factors of a bad quality of life were the presence of joint deformation and a low WAI score. <h3>Conclusions</h3> While the availability of a wide range of instruments can provide users with many options in RA, some care is important when selecting an outcome to meet the needs of a particular research study or clinical purpose <h3>References</h3> Zhang, W., M.A. Gignac, D. Beaton, K. Tang, A.H. Anis, et G. Canadian Arthritis Network Work Productivity, Productivity loss due to presenteeism among patients with arthritis: estimates from 4 instruments. J Rheumatol, 2010. 37: p. 1805-14. Verstappen, S.M., K.D. Watson, M. Lunt, K. McGrother, D.P. Symmons, K.L. Hyrich, et al., Working status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis: results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register. Rheumatology (Oxford), 2010. 49: p. 1570-7. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared