Chronic Conditions and Health Problems in Rheumatic Diseases: Comparisons with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Noninflammatory Rheumatic Disorders, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Fibromyalgia

Abstract

Four patterns of comorbidity emerged: that associated with aging; that associated with aging but enhanced by the index condition, as in SLE and cardiovascular disease; comorbidity that is part of the symptoms complex of the index condition; and CC that represent lifetime traits or manifestations of the underlying illness. Depression was the most strongly associated correlate of EQ-5D quality of life, and current depression was present in about 15% of patients with RA or NIRD and 34% to 39% of those with SLE and FM.