Disease associated time consumption in early rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the disease associated time consumption of normal activities of daily living and of treatment and monitoring activities in a cohort of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with followup of at least 6 years. Comparison was made with a group of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).


METHODS
A prospective and retrospective inventory was carried out, by interview and record investigation, of RA related and RA unrelated items covering the period from the start of the disease. Interviews were also performed in a group of patients with asthma and COPD.


RESULTS
For patients with RA there was a mean disease associated time consumption of at least 1.9 h/day during the first 6 years of the disease. The time consumption was mainly due to extra time needed for activities of daily living and daily disease related activities. Patients with the greatest progression of radiographic damage, with the most severe disability, and with the greatest cumulative disease activity had the greatest time consumption. For patients with asthma and COPD the consumption of time was comparable.


CONCLUSION
RA is a time consuming disease. Recognition of the disease associated time consumption will have implications for work (dis)ability assessments in patients with chronic diseases such as RA.