TY - JOUR T1 - Disability with Persistent Pain Following an Epidemic of Chikungunya in Rural South India JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 440 LP - 444 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.141609 VL - 43 IS - 2 AU - Asma A. Rahim AU - Romy Jose Thekkekara AU - Thomas Bina AU - Binoy J. Paul Y1 - 2016/02/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/43/2/440.abstract N2 - Objective. We investigated the effects of chronic rheumatic and musculoskeletal symptoms on the functional status of people affected by the chikungunya (CKG) epidemic in the Calicut District, Kerala, South India in 2009.Methods. A cross-sectional house-to-house survey was conducted 18 months after the CKG epidemic to assess functional status of individuals with post-epidemic persistent pain. All respondents over age 15 years with persistent pain fitting the epidemiological case definition were included. Participants’ functional status was assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI). Factors affecting severity of HAQ-DI were analyzed by ordinal regression.Results. Of 3869 subjects interviewed, 1195 (34.3%) had a positive history of CHIKV virus infection (epidemiological or confirmed); 36.28% (624/1720) of CKG-affected individuals had persistent pain 18 months post epidemic. Mean age of those affected was 48.22 ± 15.6 years; 23.2% had no disability, while 16.2% had moderate to severe disability on the HAQ-DI. Significant factors affecting severity of disability on HAQ-DI included previous rheumatic musculoskeletal disease (OR 2.27), joint and soft-tissue involvement (OR 3.74), only joint involvement (OR 2.14), female sex (OR 1.44), diet (OR 4.73), and history of joint swelling (OR 1.72).Conclusion. Persistence of pain noted in post-CKG disease resulted in significantly deteriorated functional status of those affected. ER -