Article Text
Abstract
Background The quality of life (QoL) is seriously impaired in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In addition to activity and damage indexes, new scoring systems evaluating QoL in SLE have come into use recently.
Objectives In our study, we tested the validity of the Turkish version of Lupus-QoL score; and we determined its association with clinical findings and activity indexes.
Methods We included 64 female patients (mean age: 38.2±11.7 years) diagnosed with SLE according to ACR 1987 criteria. Patients’ clinical and demographic features, biochemical test results were obtained from hospital files. SLE disease activity (SLEDAI) was determined concomitantly with the administration of Lupus-QoL questionnaire. Lupus-QoL was comprised of a total of 34 questions which were about (8 questions), (6 questions), (5 questions), (3 questions), (3 questions), (4 questions), (2 questions), and (3 questions). The patients replied these questions pertaining to their previous week as “ ” (0-4 points). In addition, the patients answered the hospital anxiety (HADS-A), depression scales (HADS-D) and their somatization symptom scores (SSC) were determined.
Results Renal involvement was present in 23 patients, 10 had neurologic involvement and 30 had hematological findings. Patient age correlated with HADS-A score (r=0.38, p=0.011) and SSC scores (r=0.3, p=0.05). Disease duration correlated with pain-related score (r=0.37, p=0.015), intimate contact (r=0.39, p=0.05). SLEDAI score had a negative correlation (r=-0.34, p=0.025) with intimate contact.
SLE patients who admitted to having Raynaud had significantly higher HADS-D scores than others (7.04±4.3 vs. 3.7±3.8, p=0.016). SLE patients with renal involvement had significantly higher planning score (42.6±23.4 vs. 27±22.9, p=0.033) and HADS-D score (7.4±4.9 vs. 4.2±3.1, p=0.016) score.
SLE patients with a positive anti-dsDNA antibody had significantly higher SLEDAI scores; physical health (48.8±41.3 vs. 77.4±51.7, p=0.049), intimate contact (43.5±49.6 vs. 85.7±67.7, p=0.023), burden to others (34.5±33 vs. 60.9±38.8, p=0.028), HADS-A score (6.14±3.9 vs. 10.04±4.1, p=0.003), and SSC score (1.14±1.5 vs. 3.04±1.9, p=0.001) were significantly lower.
In the antinucleosome-positive group, SSC score was significantly lower (0.71±1 vs. 2.4±2, p=0.003).
Conclusions QoL score is seriously impaired in SLE patients especially for patients with severe disease manifestations.
Disclosure of Interest None Declared