Determinants of self-reported health status in ankylosing spondylitis
Hidding, A.; de Witte, L.; van der Linden, S.
Journal of Rheumatology 21(2): 275-278
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 8182637 Document Number: 427749
Objective: To assess the relative contributions of disability related variables, personality traits and social network characteristics to self-reported general health status in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: For 144 patients with AS (modified New York criteria; 112 men) the following variables were assessed cross sectionally: disability related variables (age, duration of disease, spinal mobility, physicians' global assessment), personality traits (neuroticism, social inadequacy, self-esteem, health locus of control) and loneliness. Health status was assessed by means of 3 self-administered instruments: Sickness Impact Profile, Health Assessment Questionnaire for the Spondyloarthropathies and Self-assessed Function. Results: Factor analysis of the 3 health status instruments suggested one underlying health status score. This derived health status score correlated significantly with each of the disability related variables, the personality traits and loneliness (p lt 0.05), but not with social inadequacy and physician oriented health control. In multiple regression analysis 4 variables contributed significantly, together explaining 44% of the total variance of the derived health status score: neuroticism 25 physicians' global assessment 8%, internal oriented health control 6% and spinal mobility 5% (p lt 0.001). Conclusion: In AS, self-reported health status is more strongly related to personality traits than to the degree of disability. When assessing health status in AS by self-report, personality traits must be taken into account.