Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease which has a detrimental effect on joints causing functional disability and life threatening complications. The Quality of Life (QoL) involves standard of living, social participation, physical and mental health of patients where it is drastically affected in rheumatoid arthritis. The ultimate aim of any therapeutic intervention is to provide a better quality of life. Objective: To assess the Quality of Life (QoL) in rheumatoid patients who attended Siddha out patients department (OPD) of Arignar Anna Government Hospital and Indian Medicine (AAGHIM), Chennai- 106. Materials and methods: This was a Cross sectional study conducted at Siddha OPD, AAGHIM, Chennai by providing Health assessment questionnaire- disability index (HAQ-DI) to the diagnosed RA patients of sample size 50. Results: The association between the demographic variables and QoL of RA patients showed a positive significant correlation such as age group (c2=3.91 ,p=0.05***), Gender (c2=5.36, p=0.02*), Occupational status (c2=6.04, p=0.01** ), history of Non communicable disease (NCD) (x2 =12.25, p=0.001***) and history of patients medications for RA symptoms (c2= 7.42,p=0.01**); whereas negative correlation with other demographic variables. The higher range of disability index calculated using HAQ-DI showed 60% of patients had severe to very severe difficulty in reach activity, 56% of patients had moderate to severe difficulty in arising activity and 36% patients had mild to moderate level of difficulty in dressing and grooming activity. Conclusion: The present study concluded, the association between the demographic variables and QoL of RA patients showed a positive significant correlation with the disease condition. Apart from that, RA patients who adhere to Siddha management along with life style modifications and diet showed better reduction in their disability conditions with moderately improved QoL in RA patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis, Quality of life, HAQ-DI, Siddha management