RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Effect of Medication-related Support on the Quality of Life of Patients with Vasculitis in Relapse and Remission
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP jrheum.100808
DO 10.3899/jrheum.100808
A1 Delesha M. Carpenter
A1 Jessica A. Kadis
A1 Robert F. Devellis
A1 Susan L. Hogan
A1 Joanne M. Jordan
YR 2011
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2011/01/27/jrheum.100808.abstract
AB Objective Few studies have investigated whether the utility of social support for patients with a relapsing, remitting illness varies by activity level of the disease. Our goal was to determine whether disease status (relapse vs remission) moderates the effect of medication-related support from physicians and partners on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with vasculitis. Methods Patients with vasculitis (n = 228) completed baseline measures of disease status and medication-related support and a 3-month followup measure of HRQOL (RAND 36-item health survey 1.0). We calculated 8 HRQOL dimensions: physical functioning, physical role limitations, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role limitations, and mental health. Bonferroni-corrected t tests compared the HRQOL of patients in relapse to patients in remission, and multivariate analysis of covariance determined whether disease status moderated the effect of medication-related support from physicians and partners on patient HRQOL. Wilks’ lambda assessed whether the support-by-disease status interaction terms were significant. Results Relapsing patients reported significantly worse quality of life compared with nonrelapsing patients for every HRQOL dimension except physical role limitations. Disease status did not moderate the effect of physician (lambda = 0.48; p = 0.86) or partner (lambda = 1.51; p = 0.16) medication-related support on HRQOL, although greater physician and partner support predicted better HRQOL for all dimensions except bodily pain and vitality. Conclusion Vasculitis patients experience compromised HRQOL but the magnitude of the compromise is greater for patients experiencing a relapse. Medication-related support from physicians and partners is beneficial for patients’ HRQOL regardless of disease status.