AN ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN UTHIRAVATHA SURONITHAM(RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS)PATIENTS REPORTING AT AYOTHIDOSS PANDITHAR HOSPITAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SIDDHA A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most commonpersistent inflammatory arthritis. The symptoms are pain, joint swelling andstiffness affecting the small joints of the hand, feet, and wrists. Large jointinvolvement, systemic symptoms and extra articular features may also occur. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the quality of life (QOL) inUthiravatha suronitham patients reporting at OPD of Ayothidoss Panditharhospital, NIS through Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare Questionnaire (RA-FQ) and toassess the predisposing factors of Uthiravatha suronitham with respect age,gender, chronicity of illness, personal history, occupational history, familyhistory, stress etc. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS: This is a Hospital based crosssectional study, included 100  Uthiravatha suronitham patients reported OPDof ayothidoss pandithar hospital were enrolled  based on inclusion  and exclusion criteria. After obtaininginformed consent form, data were collected by using  Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare Questionnaire(RA-FQ) and Beck’s Depression Inventory form to estimate the quality of life. RESULTS : In 100 Uthiravatha suronithampatients, over all  score is 42.9 in  RA-FQ (Maximum 50) questionnaire. In beck’sdepression Inventory showed that  38%patients had Moderate depression and 33% patients had Severe depression. CONCLUSION: Rheumatoid arthritissignificantly affects the quality of life of patients both physically andmentally.