Psychological distress and fair/poor health among adults with arthritis: state-specific prevalence and correlates of general health status, United States, 2007

To: 1) estimate U.S. state-specific prevalence of serious psychological distress (SPD) and fair/poor health status (FPH), and 2) identify correlates of FPH among adults with arthritis (ARTH+). Data were from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 414,719). State-specific weighted prevalence estimates of SPD (a parts per thousand yen 13 on the Kessler 6 scale) and FPH status were calculated, and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify correlates of FPH in four domains (physical health, mental health, sociodemographics, behaviors). Prevalence of SPD and FPH were 2 and 3 times higher, respectively, among ARTH+ compared to those without. Among ARTH+, the state-specific prevalence of SPD ranged from 2.7 % to 12.2 % and FPH from 22.1 % to 43.5 %. Health behaviors (physical activity, smoking, heavy drinking) and physical health indicators (e.g. activity limitation, physically unhealthy days, co-morbidity) were the strongest correlates of FPH status. After adjustment, physically active ARTH+ were 50-66 % less likely to report FPH compared to inactive ARTH+. Psychological distress and poor health status are common in arthritis; increasing physical activity may be an intervention point to improve health status.