Title:The Assessment of the Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Foot
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Author(s): Monika Chruściak, Ilona Kowalik, Tomasz Chruściak and Małgorzata Wisłowska*
Affiliation:
- Department of Rheumatology, Policlinic, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior Affairs and Administrations, Warsaw, Poland
Keywords:
Rheumatoid arthritis, foot, quality of life, FAOS, HAQ, flatfoot, hallux valgus, disability.
Abstract: Background: The negative effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are multi-dimensional.
Foot deformities lead to disability, pain, and impaired quality of life.
Objective: Identifying the difficulties in functioning rheumatoid foot and assessing the quality of
life in this aspect.
Materials and Methods: The material included 50 patients of Rheumatology Policlinic of the Central
Clinical Hospital of Interior Affairs in Warsaw and a matched control group of 50 individuals
without RA. The degree of foot joint damage was assessed using the Manchester scale, lower limb
movement and quality of life using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Score and
HAQ.
Results: The duration of symptoms was 16.0 ± 8.9 years. High activity of RA measured by the DAS
was observed in 20% of patients, moderate in 26%, and low in 54%. The most common foot deformities
were: hammer toes (82%), longitudinal flat feet (74%), and hyperkeratosis (56%). The
least frequent were: stiff toe (38%) and overlapping fingers (28%). In the RA group, the outcomes
of the FAOS questionnaire were statistically significantly worse than in the control group in all categories
(p<0.001). The worst-rated domain was the sport and recreation subscale (median 55.0), the
best daily activity (median 86.8). The strongest relationship was demonstrated between the FAOS
and HAQ indices. Spearman's HAQ correlation coefficient with the ADL subscale was r=-0.85,
p<0.001; with the QOL, sport/recreation and pain subscales moderate, it was r=-0.72; r= 0.71, p
<0.001.
Conclusion: Lower limb movement function and quality of life are worse in RA patients; pain accompanies
climbing and descending stairs; running and jumping require effort.
