Psychological distress and fair/poor health among adults with arthritis: state-specific prevalence and correlates of general health status, United States, 2007

Abstract

Objectives: To: 1) estimate U.S. state-specific prevalence of serious psychological distress (SPD) and fair/poor health status (FPH), and 2) identify correlates of FPH among adults with arthritis (ARTH+).

Methods: Data were from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 414,719). State-specific weighted prevalence estimates of SPD (> or = 13 on the Kessler 6 scale) and FPH status were calculated, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify correlates of FPH in four domains (physical health, mental health, sociodemographics, behaviors).

Results: Prevalence of SPD and FPH were 2 and 3 times higher, respectively, among ARTH+ compared to those without. Among ARTH+, the state-specific prevalence of SPD ranged from 2.7 % to 12.2 % and FPH from 22.1 % to 43.5 %. Health behaviors (physical activity, smoking, heavy drinking) and physical health indicators (e.g. activity limitation, physically unhealthy days, co-morbidity) were the strongest correlates of FPH status. After adjustment, physically active ARTH+ were 50-66 % less likely to report FPH compared to inactive ARTH+.

Conclusions: Psychological distress and poor health status are common in arthritis; increasing physical activity may be an intervention point to improve health status.