Subjective health complaints and illness perception amongst adults with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome/Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome-HypermobilityType - a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Disability and rehabilitation 2019-01, Vol.41 (3), p.333-340
• Main Authors: Hope, Lena, Juul-Kristensen, Birgit, Løvaas, Helene, Løvvik, Camilla, Maeland, Silje
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: diagnostic self evaluation; illness perceptions; Joint instability; subjective health complaints; surveys and questionnaires
• ISSN: 0963-8288; 1464-5165
• DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2017.1390695

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and severity of subjective health complaints and describe illness perception in a population of Joint Hypermobility Syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome-Hypermobile Type. Method: This study was a postal survey with a questionnaire battery on demographic data, subjective health complaints inventory, and illness perception. A total of 110 individuals diagnosed with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome-Hypermobile Type from two specialized hospitals in Norway were offered participation. Further, 140 gender- and age-matched healthy controls from statistics Norway representing the general population were sent the questionnaire for reference. Results: Overall response rate was 30.4% (n = 76), with 44.5% (n = 49) in Joint Hypermobility Syndrome/Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome-Hypermobile Type and 19.3% (n = 27) in controls. Subjective health complaints were significantly higher in Joint Hypermobility Syndrome/Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome-Hypermobile Type - than in the controls (32.06 vs. 11.08; p