Social Participation and Health Related Quality of Life in Early and Established Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Social participation has been recognized as one of the key variables to be addressed in disability research yet few studies addressed the association between restriction in participation and quality of life in the context of rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between restrictions in social participation and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in early and established group of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Two samples with early (n = 97; age = 53 +/- 12.3 years; disease duration = 2.8 +/- 1.2 years; 76 % women) and established (n = 143; age = 58 +/- 10.3 years; disease duration = 16.1 +/- 3.6 years; 86 % women) RA patients were collected. Respondents completed questionnaires on pain (NHP), fatigue (VAS), functional disability (HAQ), depression (HADS), social participation restrictions (Participation scale) and health related quality of life (SF-36). Data were analyzed using stepwise regression models controlling for the relevant variables. Perceived social participation restrictions in the group of early patients were found to be negatively associated with the mental health component of the HRQoL (beta = -0.192; p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.05) and in the established RA group with the physical health component of the HRQoL (beta = -0.271; p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.001). These results generally suggest the importance of social participation with regard to HRQoL in RA.