Rheumatoid Arthritis and Quality of Life: Multidimensional Impact
RA affects quality of life (QoL) across domains:
Physical
- Joint pain, stiffness, swelling → limited mobility, ADL difficulty
- Fatigue (inflammatory, anemia, sleep disruption)
Functional
- Self-care, household, work limitations
- Assistive devices, home modifications often needed
Psychological
- Depression, anxiety (2–3× general population)
- Unpredictability → loss of control
Social and Vocational
- Work disability: 30–40% within 10 years
- Social isolation, role changes
Treatment-Related
- DMARD/corticosteroid side effects (infection risk, osteoporosis, metabolic)
- Monitoring burden
Optimizing QoL
- Early, treat-to-target strategy
- Multidisciplinary care (rheum, PT, OT, psych, social work)
- Self-management education, support groups
- Workplace accommodations
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