Abstract Eight

Abstract Eight

A controlled study of the long-term prognosis of adult Still's
disease.

Sampalis JS Esdaile JM Medsger TA Jr
Partridge AJ Yeadon C Senecal JL
Myhal D Harth M Gutkowski A
Carette S et al

In: Am J Med (1995 Apr) 98(4):384-8

ISSN: 0002-9343

PURPOSE: To assess the long-term prognosis of patients with adult Still's disease for physical and psychological disability, pain,
social functioning, social support, medication use, formal education, occupation, time lost from work, and family income, and to contrast
these results with those of same-sex sibling controls.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were recruited from medical center-based cohorts in
Pittsburgh and Eastern Canada and from a national survey of rheumatologists. Patients and same-sex sibling controls completed the
Health Assessment Questionnaire for physical disability, the psychological and social function domains of the Arthritis Impact
Measurement Scales, and the Interpersonal Skills Evaluation List questionnaire for social support, and replied to questions on
medication use, formal education, occupation, time lost from work, and family income.

RESULTS: One hundred four of 111 eligible adult Still's patients (94%) provided data. They identified 86 same-sex sibling controls, of whom 60 (70%) participated. The mean duration of adult Still's disease was 10 years. Approximately half of patients continued to require medication even 10 years after diagnosis. Patients had significantly higher levels of pain, physical disability, and psychological disability when compared with the controls. However, the levels of pain and physical disability were low compared to patients with other rheumatic diseases. Educational achievement, occupational prestige, social functioning and support,
time lost from work, and family income were similar for both patients and controls.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite causing disability, pain, and, in many, the need for long-term medication, patients with adult Still's
disease are resilient. The disease did not interfere with educational attainment, occupational prestige, social functioning and support, time lost from work, or family income.

Webmaster's Comment ** I do not completely agree with the conclusions of this study. I know of many people where Still's Disease DID interfere with educational attainment, occupational prestige, social functioning and support, time lost from work, and family income.

****** These are the honest facts ******

Institutional address:
      Department of Surgery
      McGill University
      Montreal
      Quebec.

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