In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, to evaluate the caregiver?s burn and responsibility in the family and the relation between the disease?s severity.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that effect multiple organs, systems and that cause on with progressive synovial tissue inflamation, bone erosion, cartilage destruction and deformation joint entirety.The purpose of our study is to asses the relation of the disease?s severity and to evaluate the caregiver?s burns and responsibilty in the family.60 patients with RA and 60 their caregivers were included into the study. 60 OA patients and their caregivers were included study as a control group. For the patient?s pain and the severity of their ilness were evaluated by VAS (visual analogue scale of pain) and NHP (Nottinghan Health Profıle), HAQ (Health Assessment Questionnaire), RA-QoL (RA- Qualıty of Life), SF-36 (Short Form-36). For the patient?s rutine controls sedimantation and CRP values were recorded. The patient?s disease activity was calculated with DAS 28, and they were divided into 3 groups, mild, moderate, and severe. Caregiver?s answered VAS and for the asses patient?s pain, the disease?s severity, they answered CRA (Caregiver Reactıon Assessment), CSI (Caregiver Strain Indeks). To evaluate the caregiver?s objectively Also caregiver?s questionned fort he duty groups divided as care duty, home duty, help duty and for the time that they spent. CRA and CSI are compared for the disease?s activity.We found CRA disrupted Schedule is significantly different (p<0,05). CRA financial problems was found associated with disease?s activity into three groups (p<0,05). CRA health problems was another parameter that correlated with disease?s activity. When the severity of the disease?s increased, the caregiver?s health problems was effected worsely.As conclusion patient?s care is important in RA. The chronic disease give also burden to the caregiver?s. Patient?s care is associated with multiple factors either by the patient and caregiver?s. This is important problem. We suppose that there is a correlation between activity of disease and caregiver?s burden.Key words: Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, DAS?28, CRA, CSI