Health-Related Quality of Life Among People With Arthritis in Ireland
Author(s)
Jan Sørensen, MSc(health econ).
Professor, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.
Professor, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.
OBJECTIVES: Based on a online survey among people with arthritis (n=1600), the objectives was to explore loss in HRQOL associated with arthritis.
METHODS: Through a co-design process, we developed an online questionnaire eliciting general health status, EQ-5D and sleep quality among people with arthritis. We compared the health status of respondents with the health status of respondents in the national Healthy Ireland 2021-2023 surveys.
RESULTS: The HRQOL of respondents living with arthritis was considerably worse than for the general population. 55% of respondents with arthritis reported having poor or fair health. This compares to 2.5% of the general population. 45% of respondents reported having good, very good, or excellent health. This compares to 97.5% of the general population.
Sleep interruptions are common features. Nearly 20% of respondents reported that arthritis severely impacted on their sleeping patterns. 40% and 28% of respondents reported they had occasional or slight problems with sleep. Just 11% indicated that they have no sleep problems due to their arthritis.On the EQ-5D, 70% of respondents reported having problems with mobility. 97% reported problems with pain and discomfort, 80% reported problems with usual activity, 65% reported problems with anxiety and depression and 35% reported problems with self-care. Using the Irish EQ-scoring algorithm, the mean score was 0.58 (95%CI 0.567, 0.599). This is substantially worse compared to the general population, who have reported mean scores above 0.90. On this scale, female respondents reported as having worse health status (0.574 (95%CI 0.557,0.592) compared to male respondents (0.644 (95%CI 0.606, 0.681).
CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study may provide a reference point to understand the HRQOL-loss associated with arthritis. The information can be used to inform future clinical trials of new treatments for arthritis, as well as inform the healthcare system and other stakeholders of the impact that people living with arthritis face.
METHODS: Through a co-design process, we developed an online questionnaire eliciting general health status, EQ-5D and sleep quality among people with arthritis. We compared the health status of respondents with the health status of respondents in the national Healthy Ireland 2021-2023 surveys.
RESULTS: The HRQOL of respondents living with arthritis was considerably worse than for the general population. 55% of respondents with arthritis reported having poor or fair health. This compares to 2.5% of the general population. 45% of respondents reported having good, very good, or excellent health. This compares to 97.5% of the general population.
Sleep interruptions are common features. Nearly 20% of respondents reported that arthritis severely impacted on their sleeping patterns. 40% and 28% of respondents reported they had occasional or slight problems with sleep. Just 11% indicated that they have no sleep problems due to their arthritis.On the EQ-5D, 70% of respondents reported having problems with mobility. 97% reported problems with pain and discomfort, 80% reported problems with usual activity, 65% reported problems with anxiety and depression and 35% reported problems with self-care. Using the Irish EQ-scoring algorithm, the mean score was 0.58 (95%CI 0.567, 0.599). This is substantially worse compared to the general population, who have reported mean scores above 0.90. On this scale, female respondents reported as having worse health status (0.574 (95%CI 0.557,0.592) compared to male respondents (0.644 (95%CI 0.606, 0.681).
CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study may provide a reference point to understand the HRQOL-loss associated with arthritis. The information can be used to inform future clinical trials of new treatments for arthritis, as well as inform the healthcare system and other stakeholders of the impact that people living with arthritis face.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
PCR113
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health, Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes
Disease
Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal)