Health-related quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis treated with certolizumab pegol.

OBJECTIVE:Inflammatory joint diseases cause pain and disability. The objective of this study was to measure the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis treated with certolizumab pegol and compare the results with those of the  general population. METHOD:Using a cross-sectional design and sociodemographic and clinical  variables, adherence to treatment and quality of life data were collected using  the Euroqol-5d-5L (EQ-5D) questionnaire. The quality of life of the general  population was obtained from the Spanish National Health Survey. Answers to  the EQ-5D questionnaire were analyzed in both groups using two-part models,  which measure the probability of having perfect health as well as the disutility  caused by the disease. RESULTS:The sample included 59 patients with high adherence (92.3%). The  mean utility value was 0.78 and pain was the most affected dimen sion. The  reduction in utility (EQ-5D index) of patients with inflammatory joint disease as  compared to the general population was 0.127. CONCLUSIONS:The subjects of the study showed a significantly lower quality of  life than the general population despite effective control of the disease. Two- part models facilitate the interpretation of quality-of-life studies using the EQ- 5D.