RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effect of social deprivation on disease severity and outcome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
JF Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JO Ann Rheum Dis
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism
SP 410
OP 413
DO 10.1136/ard.56.7.410
VO 56
IS 7
A1 A McEntegart
A1 E Morrison
A1 H A Capell
A1 M R Duncan
A1 D Porter
A1 R Madhok
A1 E A Thomson
YR 1997
UL http://ard.bmj.com/content/56/7/410.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE Social deprivation is now recognised to have an important impact on morbidity and mortality. This study sought to ascertain the effect of deprivation, if any, on disease severity, functional disability, and outcome in rheumatoid patients in Glasgow.METHODS 814 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were assessed for clinical, functional, and laboratory indices of disease activity. Deprivation categories for individual patients were determined using the Carstairs index. Five year follow up is available for 440 patients.RESULTS The study population of RA patients live largely in the most deprived areas. Patients from deprived areas have significantly poorer function at outset and at five years as defined by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score. This is not attributable to differences in disease duration in patients from the most deprived regions or compliance with treatment. Furthermore, these patients do not achieve over five years the initial functional level of those living in the most advantaged localities.CONCLUSION RA patients from deprived areas have poorer function, which is associated with greater need—medical, social, and paramedical. Strategies and resources for healthcare need to be adjusted according to this variation.