Health-related quality of life in psoriatic arthritis patients in Spain

Purpose: To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics, including health-related quality-of-life (HRQL), in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: 287 patients from 18 Spanish centres were assessed. PsA severity was measured using the following criteria: (1) Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI score 0-72, from low to high severity); (2) number of swollen and tender joints; and (3) Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ score 0-3 from low to high impairment in daily activities). HRQL assessment was performed using the following criteria: (a) EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D scores 1-3, with a higher score representing a worse HRQL), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS score 0-100, with a higher score representing a better HQRL) and (b) Short Form-36 (SF-36 score 0-100, with a higher score representing a better HRQL).

Results: 24.7% of patients were treated with infliximab. In the two groups, 55.7% of the patients were male with a mean age of 52.40±12.53 years. The average number of swollen joints was higher in patients not receiving biological therapy than in those receiving treatment (2.98 vs. 1.54). The mean PASI score was 3.73±5.83, and there was no difference between groups. HAQ scores were higher in patients receiving infliximab than in those not receiving treatment (0.93 vs. 0.70). The mean EQ-5D scores in the two groups indicated a poorer status based on pain and inability to perform usual/daily activities. HRQL measured by VAS score mean was 60.41 ± 20.08, and there was no difference between the groups. The domains in the SF-36 suggesting poorer functioning in the two groups were the physical role (50.76 ± 43.43), physical pain (49.35 ± 25.69) and the overall physical component (37.88 ± 10.87).

Conclusions: PsA is associated with an impaired HRQL characterised by physical pain and poorer functioning in daily activities.