Damage index for antiphospholipid syndrome during long term follow-up: Correlation between organ damage accrual and quality of life.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Consequences of organ damage in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) are diverse, our aim was to determine organ damage over time and the correlation of organ damage accrual with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in PAPS. METHODS: First phase retrospective cohort applying Damage Index for Antiphospholipid Syndrome (DIAPS) at 1, 5, 10, 20 years, or longer since diagnosis. Second phase cross-sectional study, assessing HRQoL by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36), and organ damage accrual. Descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation coefficient were used. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were included, mean follow-up15 years. Deep vein thrombosis prevailed (71.6%), pulmonary embolism (35.8%) and stroke (32.8%). Organ damage was found in 98.5%, with a cumulative DIAPS value of 3, with greater involvement in the neuropsychiatric and peripheral vascular domains. Regarding HRQoL, deterioration in the physical component summary (PCS) was found in 89.6%. Organ damage accrual correlated inversely and significantly with all the SF-36 domains, mainly with the total score and PCS. Body pain and PCS correlated the most (rho = -0.503, rho = -0.475). CONCLUSIONS: Organ damage accrual impaired HRQoL in PAPS. Secondary thromboprophylxis through adequate systemic management and control of cardiovascular risk factors are necessary to prevent further impairment.