Mental health issues ‘can affect rheumatoid arthritis outcomes’

A new study has indicated that poor mental health can have a negative impact on physical health outcomes in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

The King's College London research aimed to examine the longitudinal impact of symptoms of depression and anxiety on treatment response, long-term disease activity and physical disability in rheumatoid arthritis.

Baseline depression and anxiety symptoms were associated with increased disease activity and increased tender joint counts, as well as a lower chance of reaching clinical remission.

Patients with symptoms of depression and anxiety also showed a 50 percent reduction in prednisolone treatment effect, in comparison with patients with no symptoms of depression and anxiety at baseline.

The researchers concluded: "Mental health should be routinely measured both in clinical practice and in research, and managed alongside rheumatological disease to optimise health outcomes."

Rheumatoid arthritis affects around 400,000 people in the UK, striking at any age, but most commonly starting between the ages of 40 and 50.