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Introduction Chronic diseases have a great impact on the morbidity and mortality and on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients around the world. The impact of rheumatic diseases has not been fully recognized. We conducted a comparative study to evaluate the HRQoL in different chronic diseases. Objectives The aim of the present study was to assess the HRQoL and identify specific areas affected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), diabetes mellitus, and end-stage renal disease, in geriatric subjects and in a control group. Patients and methods We conducted a cross-sectional study, in a General Hospital in Morelia, Mexico. All patients met the classification criteria for RA, OA, diabetes mellitus, and end-stage renal disease; the geriatric subjects group was aged ≥65 years and the control group ≥30 years. Demographic characteristics were recorded, different instruments were applied: SF-36, visual analog scale for pain, patient's and physician's global assessments, Beck Depression Inventory and specific instruments (DAS-28, HAQ-Di, WOMAC, Diabetes Quality of Life [DQOL] and Kidney Disease Questionnaire of Life [KDQOL]). Biochemical measures: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, blood count, glucose, HbA 1 C, serum creatinine and urea. Results We evaluated 290 subjects (control group: 100; geriatric subjects: 30 and the rest of groups: 160). Differences were detected in baseline characteristics ( P P =.007). The worst HRQoL was observed in the end-stage renal disease group (SD: 48.06±18.84 x /SD). General health was the principal affected area in RA. Pain was higher in rheumatic diseases: OA (5.2±2.4) and RA (5.1±3). HAQ was higher in OA compared to RA (1.12±.76 vs .82±.82, respectively; P =.001). Forty-five percent of all subjects had depression. Conclusions The HRQoL in RA patients is poor and comparable to that of other chronic diseases (end-stage renal disease and diabetes mellitus). Rheumatic diseases should be considered as high impact diseases and therefore should receive more attention.

Introduction Laboratory tests have an important role in rheumatology for evaluation, diagnosis, and follow up in several diseases. Specialized tests such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti single, or double stranded DNA antibodies (anti-DNA), and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL) are frequently used and its diagnostic performance is well known in tertiary care centers. Our setting is a secondary care center that implemented these tests 2 years ago. After 1 year of implementation, we decided to evaluate the frequency of use, who orders these tests, and their diagnostic properties for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS). Patienst and method All patients with clinical charts and a request for these tests were evaluated from September 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006. These evaluations were done prospectively by a single, trained evaluator following a standardized format looking at pretest clinical information such as pretest diagnosis, physician's level of training, service, and posttest results as well as therapeutic changes after results. Statistical analysis: descriptive statistics and 2 by 2 tables to estimate diagnostic performance of most common indications. Results Two hundred and eighty-six requests were reviewed and only 157 were evaluated. Rheumatology and Internal Medicine services sent 63 and 31 requests for these tests respectively. Diagnostic properties of ANA for SLE were sensitivity (sen) 70%, specificity (spec): 92%, positive predictive value (PPV): 81%, negative predictive value (NPP): 86%, positive likelihood ratio (PLR): 8.73, and negative likelihood ratio (NLR): 0.33. Anti-double stranded DNA, Sen: 78%, spec: 50%, PPV: 80%, NPP: 46%, PLR: 1.56, NLR: 0.44; ACACL y Sen: 78%, spec: 92%, PPV: 78%, NPV 92%, PLR: 10, NLR 0,24. Conclusions These specialized tests are not frequently used in our setting. Their diagnostic properties are not as accurate as those published in medical literature. Guidelines are needed in our hospital to improve their diagnostic performance.