Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Leads to Lower Quality-of-Life Measures

Investigators from China evaluated factors influencing the quality of life (QoL) in 104 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and found that patients with SLE experienced lower QoL factors when compared with patients who did not have SLE. The study was conducted by Zeng and colleagues from the department of rheumatology and immunology, Xiangya Hospital – Central South University in Changsha, China, and the results were presented at the 12th International Congress on SLE (LUPUS 2017), March 26-29, in Melbourne, Australia. 

The study used the Chinese version of the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) to assess quality of life, whereas the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) was employed to evaluate SLE disease activity. In addition, the following QoL factors were evaluated: depression, by the  Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); anxiety, by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale; the Social support Rating Scale (SSRS); sleep quality, by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); and fatigue, by the Visual Analogue Scale to Evaluate Fatigue Severity (VAS-F). 

Using the SF-36 scale, patients with SLE scored lower than normal in both global score and in all dimensionalities (P <.05). Zeng and colleagues also found that SLEDAI, PHQ-9, GAD-7, PQSI and VAS-F all negatively correlated with SF-36 scores (P <.01 for all). The study found that SSRS was positively correlated with SF-36 scores (P <.01). 

After conducting a binary logistic regression analysis, the investigators found that disease activity, anxiety, social support, sleep quality, and fatigue were the independent determinants of QoL in patients with SLE (R² =.860, P <.01).

Zeng and colleagues concluded that patients with SLE had experienced lower QoL when compared with patients without the disease. “Disease activity, anxiety, social support, sleep quality, and fatigue are the major influencing factors of QoL in SLE,” they wrote.

Reference

Zeng F, Xu Q, Liu D, et al. Analysis of influencing factors on quality of life of patients with SLE [published online March 24, 2017]. Lupus Sci Med. doi:10.1136/lupus-2017-000215.408

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