Assessing the impact of psoriatic arthritis on patient function and quality of life: lessons learned from other rheumatologic conditions

Abstract

Objectives: To identify and describe measures that can be used to assess the impact of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) on patient functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods: A literature search of the PubMed database to identify papers describing assessment tools for quality of life and function in rheumatic diseases.

Results: Many tools have been developed that can be used to assess the impact of rheumatic disease on patient functioning and HRQOL. Although several disease-specific tools have been developed for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis, few have been developed specifically for PsA, a condition that affects both skin and joints. However, several have been adopted from their use in other conditions and used in clinical trials, such as the Health Assessment Questionnaire and Short Form 36 and have shown good performance characteristics. The Psoriatic Arthritis Quality of Life questionnaire, a recently developed disease-specific instrument, has good internal consistency, validity, and reliability. Initiatives are underway by the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis to evaluate Psoriatic Arthritis Quality of Life responsiveness to treatment in clinical trials, in addition to other projects intended to improve the assessment of quality of life and function in PsA. These efforts are influenced by "lessons learned" from assessment tools in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis.

Conclusions: Assessing the impact of PsA and its treatment on patient function and quality of life is critical to improving patient outcomes, and therefore, valid and reliable tools that can be easily used in both clinical trials and clinical practice are being developed and refined.