AB0397 Prevalence and factors associated with depression among patients affected by chronic inflammatory arthritis: preliminary results of a single-centre experience in italy

Background Depression and anxiety disorders are more common in chronic inflammatory arthritides (CIA) than in the general population.1 In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), depressive and anxiety symptoms have been associated with disease activity and pain perception,1 physical disability,2 health care costs,3 and mortality.4 To our knowledge, data on the prevalence of depression in Italian patients with RA are scarce. Objectives To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with depression among patients affected by RA. Methods During an one year period, patients affected by RA have been consecutively enrolled. For each patient demographics and disease characteristics were recorded; the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was administered. HADS is a validate questionnaire to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients affected by somatic disorders admitted to general hospital. An HADS ≥11 was considered diagnostic for depression. Results The table summarises the main results. We recruited 231 patients affected by RA, finding a prevalence of depression of 13.9% (95% CI 9.4%–18.3%). Overall, patients with depression, when compared with patients without, were older, more frequently females, with a lower education, higher physician global assessment and patient global assessment, more comorbidities. In particular, they had any cardiovascular, neurologic or musculoskeletal issue (p=0.018, p=0.032, p=0.014, respectively) and more often used glucocorticoids or NSAIDs. Conversely, no association was found between depressive symptoms and the use of biologic therapies or the presence of inflammatory markers. Interestingly, a positive history of depression was present only in few patients with an HADS ≥11. Conclusions These preliminary results suggest that more than one every seven patients with RA could suffer from depression, thus depression might be undiagnosed in a significant number of patients. Comorbidities, anti-inflammatory medications and both physician- and patient- driven evaluation of disease burden were the most striking factors associated with depression in this cohort of patients with RA. References [1] Kojima M, et al. Arthritis and rheumatism2009Aug 15;61(8):1018–24. [2] Peck JR, et al. Arthritis and rheumatism1989Sep;32(9):1100–6. [3] Joyce AT, et al. J Rheumatol2009Apr;36(4):743–52. [4] Ang DC, et al. J Rheumatol2005Jun;32(6):1013–9. Disclosure of Interest None declared