Rheumatoid arthritis patients of lower socio-economic status are more likely to suffer depression as a result of rheumatoid arthritis.
In a study conducted by Mary Margarette, MD, and her colleagues at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), an analysis of rheumatoid arthritis patients and degree of depression revealed that those who used public hospitals a proxy for lower income had higher rates of depression.
According to Nancy Walsh of MedPageToday, depression and rheumatoid arthritis are already known to have a connection. "Depression has been reported in 13% to 42% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and is associated with greater use of health services and poorer adherence to medical therapy," writes Walsh.
In their report on the study, the UCSF researchers explained why these new results are important. "If an interaction [between socio-economic status and depression level] is present," they write, "then there is a group of vulnerable patients who could benefit from earlier identification and treatment."
Read more on the details of this study at MedPageToday.com.
