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Objective: Little information is know about women with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the variability in biomarkers and day to day functioning over time. The presentation reports basic results from a descriptive study examining a large set of variables in women with RA, and their movement over time.
Design: This is a pilot descriptive longitudinal study. The purpose is to examine study parameters over a 1 year period
Population, Sample, Setting A convenience sample of 25 women diagnosed with RA, 65 years old and above, was recruited within a midsize town in the western US. 25 of the subjects were also recruited without RA. Results reported here represent the women with RA.
Variables: Data collected included demographic inventory, Holmes-Rahe SRS, AIMS2, biomarker lab work, and RA specific data (stage, flares, treatments, etc.). At monthly intervals, updates on RA flares and general health status was collected, along with the other data. We wanted to describe variability in each measure, and patterns between life changes as measured by the Holmes-Rahe S R S, changes in the health status subscales on the AIMS2, and alterations in the sedimentation rate.
Methods: Baseline data were collected from all participants. Then data collected monthly on all variables for a one year period.
Findings: Data collection for this longitudinal study has been completed, and findings are being analyzed at this time. This abstract focuses on reporting a clearer picture of variables that are sensitive in measuring change, and those which are more likely to remain static.
Conclusions/Implications: It is important to understand the complex and variable experience of RA in elderly women. Studies such as this lead the way to designing effective intervention studies with sensitive outcome measures, and the degree of natural variability in the illness experience can be clarified. This information is also clinically useful for nurses.
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