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The Scleroderma Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)

A new self-assessment questionnaire for evaluation of disease status in patients with systemic sclerosis

Der Scleroderma Assessment Questionaire (SAQ)

Ein neuer Fragebogen für Patienten mit der progressiven systemischen Sklerodermie

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Abstract

Objective

To develop a self-assessment questionnaire and estimate its validity in the evaluation of disease status in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Patients and methods

The developed questionnaire (SAQ) consists of 23 questions divided into four groups related to symptoms of vascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal dysfunction. One hundred and five patients with systemic sclerosis filled in the SAQ. Answers were assessed on a 0–3 scale and Index of Vascular Status (IVS), Index of Respiratory Status (IRS), Index of Gastrointestinal Status (IGS), Index of Musculoskeletal Status (IMMS) and Index of Disease Status (IDS) were calculated. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine the correlation of index score for particular organ system with various disease damage indicators.

Results

Mean score for IVS was significantly higher in patients with finger-tip ulcers or finger-tip osteolysis than in patients without, and was also higher in patients who had more severe capillary damage. Mean score for IRS was significantly higher in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, also in patients with reduced FVC, DLCO and DLCO/VA. Patients with esophageal hypomotility had a higher mean score for IGS than patients with normal esophageal motility. The mean score for IMSS showed a strong correlation with the skin score and was significantly higher in patients with reduced hand motility, joint contractures, muscle weakness or arthralgia/arthritis. The mean score for IDS was significantly higher in patients who had multisystemic involvement.

Conclusions

The Scleroderma Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) is a sensitive measurement of disease status and level of impairment of different organ systems in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Zusammenfassung

Einleitung

Unsere Untersuchung wurde durchgeführt um einen Fragebogen für Patienten mit Systemischer Sklerodermie zu entwickeln und zu beurteilen, ob der Fragebogen fähig ist, den Befall veschiedener innerer Organen zu bewerten.

Patienten und Methoden

Unser Fragebogen (der sog. Scleroderma Assessment Questionnaire – SAQ) enthält 23 Fragen, aufgeteilt in vier Gruppen in Bezug auf Symptome verschiedener betroffener Organe. Die Antworten von 105 Patienten mit der Systemischen Sklerodermie wurden mit 0 bis 3 Punkten bewertet und die sog. Index of Vascular status (IVS), Index of Respiratory Status (IRS), Index of Gastrointestinal status (IGS), Index of Musculosceletal status (IMMS) und Index of Disease status (IDS) berechnet. Der Mann-Whitney-Test und der Kruskal-Wallis-Test wurden benutzt, um die Korrelation zwischen den erwähnten Indexen und objektiven Indikatoren der Schädigung verschiedener Organe zu messen.

Ergebnisse

Der durschnittliche Wert des IVS war bedeutend höher bei Patienten mit Rattenbissnekrosen oder Akrolyse von Fingern und Zehen im Vergleich mit Patienten ohne ischämische Gewebsdefekte, sowie bei Patienten mit schwerer Schädigung von Kapillaren im Nagelfalz. Der durchschnittliche Wert des IRS war bedeutend höher bei Patienten mit Lungenfibrose oder reduzierter FVC, DLCO und DLCO/VA. Patienten mit Befall des Ösophagus hatten einen höheren IGS-Wert im Vergleich zu Patienten ohne Schädigung des Ösophagus. Der durchschnittliche IMMS-Wert war in Korrelation mit dem Skin score und war bedeutend höher bei Patienten mit beschränkter Handbeweglichkeit, Gelenkkontrakturen, Muskelatrophie, Arthralgie oder Arthritis. Der durchschnittliche IDS-Wert war bedeutend höher bei Patienten mit Befall mehrerer innerer Organe.

Schlussfolgerung

Der SAQ-Fragebogen kann zur Bewertung des Befalls verschiedener innerer Organe bei Patienten mit Systemischer Sklerodermie verwendet werden.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Prof. Dr Gerold Stucki and his colleagues for permission to use some questions from the SySQ in our questionnaire.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radnicka 63, 11271, Belgrade-Surcin, Serbia and Montenegro

    P. S. Ostojić

  2. Institute of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

    N. S. Damjanov

Authors
  1. P. S. Ostojić
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  2. N. S. Damjanov
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. S. Ostojić.

Appendix

Appendix

figure a

Original Serbian version of the SAQ which was validated in this study

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Ostojić, P.S., Damjanov, N.S. The Scleroderma Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). Z Rheumatol 65, 168–175 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-006-0050-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-006-0050-7

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