A comparison of overall health between patients with rheumatoid arthritis and a population with and without rheumatoid arthritis.

Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at a rheumatology outpatient clinic (PAT) were compared with women with RA in representative samples of the Gothenburg population (POP), and with non-arthritic women in this population (REF). Clinical routine measures disclosed substantial dysfunction in both RA groups. Their physical, psychosocial, and overall function, assessed by means of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), was more impaired than that of the REF. The PAT had a higher disease activity and worse overall health status than the POP. In definite and classical RA, a poorer SIP physical and overall function was noted in the PAT than in the POP group, despite similar mean age and mean disease duration. Women with probable RA in the POP group had worse SIP dysfunction than the REF, particularly regarding ambulation and personal care. The SIP was sensitive to variations in disease activity and comprehensively disclosed dysfunction better than routine clinical measures.