Quality of life and economic burden of illness in very early arthritis. A population based study in southern Sweden.

Abstract

Patients with RA had significantly worse scores in the AIMS dexterity, household activities, ADL, and pain subscales compared to patients with other arthritides very early in the disease. The EuroQol generic quality of life instrument was less sensitive in detecting differences between patients with early arthritis than the disease-specific AIMS instrument. There was a correlation between the costs and the EuroQol utility scores and EuroQol VAS scores during the very first months of the disease, as well as with costs and the AIMS subscales of mobility, physical activity, household activity, ADL, and pain.