Effects Oof Illness Perceptions On Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in China

Abstract Objectives: For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China, little is known of how their illness perceptions affect their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The present study detailed associations between characteristics of illness perception and features of HRQoL.Methods: For 191 patients with RA, illness perceptions were measured using the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (BIPQ) with 8 domains. HRQoL was determined with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). The independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, linear regression analyses, and multivariate stepwise regression was used to analyze these data. Results: The overall BIPQ of patients with RA was 49.09 ± 11.06. The highest and lowest scores were for concern (9.15 ± 1.81) and personal control (4.30 ± 2.52), respectively. Multivariate stepwise regression analyses showed that domains of BIPQ including consequences, personal control, treatment control, identity, coherence, emotional response, and the overall BIPQ score were associated with HRQoL, identity and emotional response were negatively associated with HRQoL but personal control, treatment control positively (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the overall BIPQ had a significantly negative association with each component and the summary scores of HRQoL.Conclusions: Illness perceptions were associated with HRQoL of patients with RA in China. Illness perceptions were identified as likely targets for strategies to improve quality of life in patients with RA in China. This study provides evidence that can help improve HRQoL in patients with RA.