Among people with doctor-diagnosed arthritis (DDA) compared with those without doctor-diagnosed arthritis, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is worse on several scales. When assessed by self-reported health status, 27% of those with DDA reported fair/poor health compared to 12% of those without DDA. The DDA group also reported a higher mean number of days in the past month with poor physical health (6.6 vs. 2.5 days), poor mental health (5.4 vs. 2.8 days), or days with limitations in usual activities (4.3 vs. 1.4 days).1 

Switching to the perspective of the general population and using a different survey, the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis and of arthritis-attributable activity limitations is much higher among those with the lifestyle factors of obesity, insufficient or no physical activity, and fair/poor self-rated health. In this same survey, those with doctor-diagnosed arthritis had very high proportions of all three lifestyle factors. (Reference Table 4.8 PDF CSV)

• 1. Furner SE, Hootman JM, Helmick CG, Bolen J, Zack MM. Health-related quality of life of US adults with arthritis: Analysis of data from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system, 2003, 2005, and 2007. Arthritis Care Res 2011;63(6):788-799.