Impact of disablement due to rheumatic disorders in a British population: estimates of severity and prevalence from the Calderdale Rheumatic Disablement Survey

Article Abstract:

The incidence of disabilities associated with rheumatic disorders may be higher in the UK than previously thought. Rheumatic disorders include various conditions with pain and other symptoms related to the musculoskeletal system. A study examined the incidence of disabilities associated with a rheumatic disorder among 21,889 residents of Calderdale, West Yorkshire. About eight percent of the residents over 16 years old suffered from a disability associated with a rheumatic disorder. Arthritis was the most common cause of this type of disability. Other causes included back or neck disorders, soft tissue problems and rheumatoid arthritis. Thirty percent reported more than one type of rheumatic disorder. Fifteen percent of the patients with disabilities had been hospitalized within the previous year. Forty-six percent of these patients required some type of assistance with daily living activities, and 12% required assistance on a daily basis.

Complications and side effects, Physiological aspects, Surveys, Rheumatic diseases, Arthritis, Physically disabled persons

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Comparison of clinical and self reported diagnosis for rheumatology outpatients

Article Abstract:

Patients with rheumatic diseases seem to be able to accurately identify their specific condition. Researchers polled 381 patients from a rheumatology clinic asking them to identify their illness and compared this information with the clinic's medical records. Sixty-five percent of the respondents matched their illness exactly with their physician's diagnosis. Eighty-seven percent of the respondents gave an exact or an approximate match to their physician's diagnosis. Only 3% of the respondents gave an answer that did not even approximately correspond with their physician's diagnosis. Patients with joint disease responded the most accurately (93%). Patients with more severe disease who saw their physician more frequently reported more accurately.

Diagnosis, Rheumatoid arthritis

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Quality of life - a measure too far?

Article Abstract:

Disability due to disease is not the only variable affecting quality of life. Studies commonly measure quality of life solely in terms of how disease leads to impairment, disability, and handicap. However, attempts to evaluate quality of life should also consider the impact of disease on that individual. This impact may be modulated by the person's personality, coping skills, and personal beliefs as well as that of the larger society. Quality of life also must take into account that person's living environment, the resources available, and the person's ability to engage in productive work. A "needs based" analysis will allow these other indirect factors to be measured, and thus achieve a more accurate gauge of quality of life.

Measurement, Behavior, Disabled persons, Quality of life

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