Joanna Pietrzak1, Paulina Kwarta2, Michał Karbownik3, Łukasz Mokros4, Paula Zdanowicz4, Dawid Miśkowiec5, Andrzej Witusik6, Adam Antczak7, Tadeusz Pietras4. 1. Copernicus Memorial Hospital in Lodz, Łódź, Poland: Rheumatology Department. 2. Copernicus Memorial Hospital in Lodz, Łódź, Poland: Department of Pediatrics and Allergy. 3. Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 4. Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland: Department of Clinical Pharmacology. 5. Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland: Department of Cardiology. 6. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Jan Kochanowski Memorial University of Humanities and Sciences in Kielce, Piotrków Trybunalski Division, Poland. 7. Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland, Department of General Pulmonology and Oncology.
Abstract
The progression of the inflammatory process in the course of rheumatoid arthiritis (RA) may cause a permanent destruction of joints, which in case of bigger ones (i.e. hip or knee) may be particularly a psychological burden for a patient. AIM: The aim of the study was to verify whether implantation of hip or knee endoprosthesis affect anxiety and depressive symptoms among patients with RA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled a group of 128 rheumatoid arthritis patients, including 64 patients before and 64 patients after the joint replacement procedure. Anxiety was assessed using State- Trait Anxiety Inventory and depression - Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS: Patients before the endoprosthesis implantation scored statistically significantly higher on the state anxiety scale than patients after the procedure (43.17±10.69 vs 36.95±10.63, p<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in trait anxiety scores between patients before and after alloplasty (p=0.28). Patients before the procedure scored statistically significantly higher on BDI than patients after the joint replacement (15.28±8.99 vs 11.48±8.45, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with RA after knee or hip alloplasty had lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms than patient before the procedure. Endoprosthesis implantation as a treatment option for severe joint destruction in RA might also improve depressive symptoms and anxiety among patients with RA.
The progression of the inflammatory process in the course of rheumatoid arthiritis (RA) may cause a permanent destruction of joints, which in case of bigger ones (i.e. hip or knee) may be particularly a psychological burden for a patient. AIM: The aim of the study was to verify whether implantation of hip or knee endoprosthesis affect anxiety and depressive symptoms among patients with RA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled a group of 128 rheumatoid arthritispatients, including 64 patients before and 64 patients after the joint replacement procedure. Anxiety was assessed using State- Trait Anxiety Inventory and depression - Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS:Patients before the endoprosthesis implantation scored statistically significantly higher on the state anxiety scale than patients after the procedure (43.17±10.69 vs 36.95±10.63, p<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in trait anxiety scores between patients before and after alloplasty (p=0.28). Patients before the procedure scored statistically significantly higher on BDI than patients after the joint replacement (15.28±8.99 vs 11.48±8.45, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Patients with RA after knee or hip alloplasty had lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms than patient before the procedure. Endoprosthesis implantation as a treatment option for severe joint destruction in RA might also improve depressive symptoms and anxiety among patients with RA.