Quality of life of 151 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To determine health related quality of life (QOL) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to identify the factors affecting QOL. Methods One hundred and fifty-one consecutive patients with SLE were separated into different groups according to the type or stage of disease. Health status were measured by 1 health transition (HT) and 8 composite scales of the medical outcomes study short form-36 (SF-36). The mean scores for each subscale of the SF-36 for patients with SLE in China were compared to those of a health population in China and of foreign SLE patients.The effect of patients′age,sex,education level,disease duration,disease activity (assessed by SLEDAI score),and organ damage(assessed by SLICC/ACR DI) and treatment were analyzed. ANOVA, rank sum test and correlation analysis were applied for statistical analysis. Results Patients with SLE had significantly lower HT and mean scores in each subscale of the SF-36 compared to those of a health population in China,while the scores in such subscales as physical functioning (PF), bodily pain (BP), vitality (VT), role-emotional (RE) and mental health (MH) were higher than those of foreign SLE patients. The mean scores of those patients with lupus nephritis and center neural lupus or in active state were lower than those not or those in steady-going. The SLEDAI score and SLICC/ACR DI were the most important elements that affected the QOL in SLE patients and showed obviously negative correlated with one′s scores in SF-36. The glucocorticoid dose of patients was closely negatively correlated with one′s scores. The latter were also associated with age, education level and disease duration. Conclusion The health status of patients with SLE is mainly associated with disease activity,damage and therapy. The SF-36 is a valid instrument for measuring the health related QOL in SLE.