Objective: To investigate the relationship between quality of life (QOL), Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (Anti-CCP)and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods:200 patients with RA were included in the study. Data were obtained by questionnaires and laboratory investigation, which included several generic and disease related QOL instruments. Separate dimensions and physical and mental summary scores of the Short form Health survey (SF-36) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were compared to study the relationship between clinical and laboratory parameters with QOL, (Anti-CCP)and other disease related variables.
Results: Physical health related QOL was reported to be worse, and mental health related QOL better, in RA than in control. There was highly significant association between Disease Activity Score (DAS-28)and Anti-CCP value (p <0.0001) comparing with control group. There were significance difference(P<0.05) about (HAQ) andSF-36 comparing with control.
Conclusions: RA has a significant effect on the health related qualityof life of patients. The disease duration was the most influencing factor on both the physical and mental function. Routine assessment of the HRQoL in those patients is recommended to detect and monitor the impact of the disease and its medications on different aspects.And a highly significant correlation was found between Anti-CCP value and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients.