[Quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing out-patient treatment with TNF inhibitors]. / Calidad de vida en pacientes con artritis reumatoide en tratamiento ambulatorio con anti-TNF.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing out-patient treatment with TNF inhibitors (etanercept and adalimumab). METHOD: Observational, descriptive and multi-centre study. A specific validated questionnaire was used (QOL-RA Scale) in its Spanish version, with complete confidentiality ensured. To measure the reliability of the results, the Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was used. A descriptive analysis was carried out to compare the results obtained with those obtained from studies in the USA and Colombia. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were selected who mainly consisted of married housewives who had not undergone any previous studies. The average amount of years from diagnosis was 11.81 years (SD: 7.30) and the average duration of treatment with TNF inhibitors was 1.71 years (SD: 1.03). The results of the questionnaire were: physical ability 5.42 (SD: 1.67), pain 5.10 (SD: 1.83), social life 7.08 (SD: 1.96), support 7.45 (SD: 2.10), mood 6.02 (SD: 2.03), stress 5.50 (SD: 2.01), arthritis 5.15 (SD: 1.86), health 5.50 (SD: 1.77). The results obtained were similar to those from the USA, although they showed a lower score for mood and stress categories. However, the high score in the support and social-life categories was more similar to that obtained with the Colombian questionnaire. All patients considered their quality of life to have improved with the use of TNF inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis is low, determined by pain and symptoms of depression. The patients believe that TNF inhibitors have improved their quality of life.

Calidad de vida en pacientes con artritis reumatoide en tratamiento ambulatorio con anti-TNF / Quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing out-patient treatment with TNF inhibitors

Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad de vida en pacientes con artritis reumatoideen tratamiento ambulatorio con anti-TNF (etanercept y adalimumab).Método: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y multicéntrico. Se utilizóun cuestionario específico validado (QOL-RA Scale) en su versión enespañol, manteniendo la confidencialidad al máximo. Para medir lafiabilidad de los resultados se utilizó el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach.Se ha realizado un análisis descriptivo para comparar los resultadosobtenidos con estudios realizados en la población estadounidense ycolombiana.Resultados: Se seleccionaron 82 pacientes. Destacó el perfil de amade casa, casada y con ningún estudio o estudios primarios. La mediade años de diagnóstico fue 11,81 ± 7,30 años y la de tratamiento conanti-TNF fue de 1,71 ± 1,03 años. Los resultados para la encuesta fueron:habilidad física 5,42 ± 1,67), dolor 5,10 ± 1,83, vida social 7,08± 1,96, apoyo 7,45 ± 2,10), estado de ánimo 6,02 ± 2,03, tensiónnerviosa 5,50 ± 2,01, artritis 5,15 ± 1,86), salud 5,50 ± 1,77. Los resultadosobtenidos fueron similares a los encontrados en la poblaciónestadounidense, aunque destaca una menor puntuación en elánimo y la tensión nerviosa. Sin embargo, la alta puntuación en lo referenteal apoyo y la vida social fue más parecida a la obtenida en lapoblación colombiana. Todos los pacientes consideraron que su calidadde vida había mejorado con la medicación anti-TNF.Conclusiones: La calidad de vida en pacientes con artritis reumatoidees baja, determinada por el dolor y los síntomas depresivos. Lospacientes tienen la percepción de que los anti-TNF han mejorado sucalidad de vida

Objective: To assess the quality of life of patients with rheumatoidarthritis undergoing out-patient treatment with TNF inhibitors (etanerceptand adalimumab).Method: Observational, descriptive and multi-centre study. A specificvalidated questionnaire was used (QOL-RA Scale) in its Spanish version,with complete confidentiality ensured. To measure the reliabilityof the results, the Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was used. A descriptiveanalysis was carried out to compare the results obtained withthose obtained from studies in the USA and Colombia.Results: A total of 82 patients were selected who mainly consisted ofmarried housewives who had not undergone any previous studies.The average amount of years from diagnosis was 11.81 years (SD:7.30) and the average duration of treatment with TNF inhibitors was1.71 years (SD: 1.03). The results of the questionnaire were: physicalability 5.42 (SD: 1.67), pain 5.10 (SD: 1.83), social life 7.08 (SD:1.96), support 7.45 (SD: 2.10), mood 6.02 (SD: 2.03), stress 5.50(SD: 2.01), arthritis 5.15 (SD: 1.86), health 5.50 (SD: 1.77). The resultsobtained were similar to those from the USA, although they showeda lower score for mood and stress categories. However, the highscore in the support and social-life categories was more similar tothat obtained with the Colombian questionnaire. All patients consideredtheir quality of life to have improved with the use of TNF inhibitors.Conclusions: The quality of life in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritisis low, determined by pain and symptoms of depression. The patientsbelieve that TNF inhibitors have improved their quality of life