Major Depression and Adverse Patient-Reported Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Results From a Prospective Longitudinal Cohort

Barriers, Facilitators, and Preferences for Mental Health Services Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Qualitative Study

OBJECTIVE

Although patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience high levels of depression and anxiety disorders, evidence concerning patient perceptions of facilitators and barriers to effective uptake of mental health services (eg, referral to therapists and psychiatrists, psychoeducational interventions, or support groups) is limited.

METHODS

We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 15 adults with SLE to explore patient experiences and perceptions of mental health services to identify facilitators and barriers to accessing mental health care among patients with SLE. Qualitative interviews were conducted via telephone and audio recorded for transcription and directed content analysis using NVivo software by two coders.

RESULTS

The median age of the 15 participants was 48 years, 87% were female, 33% identified as Black or African American, and 33% identified as Hispanic or Latino. Qualitative themes were organized into three domains: barriers, facilitators, and preferences for mental health services. Barriers to the use of mental health services include mental health stigma, sociodemographic factors, lack of autonomy, and time commitment. Facilitators to the use of mental health services included strong relationships with their rheumatologists and mental health care clinician experience with patients with SLE. Preferences for mental health services included education-based formats, mental health providers who work with patients with SLE, peer group formats, demographically and disease-matched psychological resources, and an emphasis on non-disease-related activities.

CONCLUSION

In the setting of persistent unmet psychosocial needs of patients living with SLE, data from this qualitative study will inform the development and refinement of mental health interventions that bolster psychological wellbeing in the SLE population.

Analysis of status and influencing factors of mental health in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disorder with varied clinical courses and prognoses, not only did the patients suffer from physical impairment, but also various physical and psychiatric comorbidities. Growing evidence have suggested that mental disorders in SLE patients, can lead to various adverse consequences.

AIM

To explored the features and influencing factors of mental health in patients with SLE and clarifying the correlations between mental health and personality characteristics and perceived social support. The results would provide a basis for psychological intervention in patients with SLE.

METHODS

The clinical data of 168 patients with SLE admitted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University between June 2020 and June 2022 were collected. Psychological assessment and correlation analysis were conducted using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and Perceived Social Support Scale, and the collected data were compared with the national norms in China. The relevant factors influencing mental health were identified by statistical analysis. A general information questionnaire, the Revised Life Orientation Test, and Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey were employed to assess optimism level and quality of life (QoL), respectively.

RESULTS

Patients with SLE obtained higher scores for the somatization, depression, anxiety, and phobic anxiety subscales than national norms (P < 0.05). A correlation was identified between total social support and total SCL-90 score or each subscale (P < 0.05). The factors significantly affecting patients' mental health were hormone dosage and disease activity index (DAI) (P < 0.05). The average optimism score of patients with SLE was 14.36 ± 4.42, and 30 cases were in the middle and lower levels. A positive correlation was found between optimism level and QoL scores.

CONCLUSION

Patients with SLE develop psychological disorders at varying degrees, which are significantly influenced by hormone dosage and DAI. Patients' mental health should be closely monitored during clinical diagnosis and treatment and provided adequate support in establishing positive, healthy thinking and behavior patterns and improving their optimism level and QoL.

Development of the American College of Rheumatology Patient-Reported Outcome Quality Measures for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

As part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded American College of Rheumatology (ACR) initiative, we sought to develop quality measures related to Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) use for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinical care.

METHODS

An expert workgroup composed of physician, patient, and researcher representatives convened to identify patient-reported outcome (PRO) domains of greatest importance to people with SLE. A patient advisory panel separately ranked domains. PROMs assessing priority domains were identified through structured literature review, and detailed psychometric reviews were conducted for each PROM. In a Delphi process, the expert workgroup rated PROMs on content validity, psychometric quality, feasibility of implementation, and importance for guiding patient self-management. The patient advisory panel reviewed PROMs in parallel and contributed to the final recommendations.

RESULTS

Among relevant PRO domains, the workgroup and patient partners ranked depression, physical function, pain, cognition, and fatigue as high-priority domains. The workgroup recommended at least once yearly measurement for (1) assessment of depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire or Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) depression scales; (2) assessment of physical function using PROMIS physical function scales or the Multi-Dimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire; and (3) optional assessments of fatigue and cognition. Pain scales evaluated were not found to be sufficiently superior to what is already assessed in most SLE clinic visits.

CONCLUSION

Expert workgroup members and patient partners recommend that clinicians assess depression and physical function at least once yearly in all people with SLE. Additional PROMs addressing cognition and fatigue can also be assessed. Next steps are to incorporate PROM-based quality measures into the ACR The Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness registry.

The relationship between uncertainty in illness and psychological adjustment to chronic illness

Using Mishel's Uncertainty in illness theory, this integrative review sought to identify how uncertainty in illness and psychological adjustment to illness are associated with chronic illness to guide development of interventions to support psychological adjustment. A search was conducted via EBSCOHost to answer the question "What is the relationship between uncertainty in illness and psychological adjustment to chronic illness?" Two key factors were identified as having an impact on psychological adjustment to chronic illness in the presence of uncertainty in illness including uncertainty appraisal and the type of coping strategies used in response to the appraisal. Individuals with a chronic illness diagnosis are more likely to experience increased levels of uncertainty in illness and decreased psychological adjustment to illness. A better understanding of these two concepts is important to augment and or guide the development of interventions to support psychological adjustment.

Health-related quality of life, remission and low lupus disease activity state in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVES

To measure the association between SLE remission and scores of patients-reported outcome (PRO) measures.

METHODS

We performed a prospective cohort study of SLE patients with a 2-year follow-up, using Lupus Patient-Reported Outcome (LupusPRO), Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Quality of Life (SLEQOL) and 36-item Short Form (SF-36) questionnaires. Remission was defined as remission off treatment (ROFT) and remission on treatment (RONT) according to the definitions of remission in SLE consensus. Mixed models accounting for repeated measures were used to compare groups as follow: ROFT and RONT vs no remission and lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) vs no LLDAS.

RESULTS

A total of 1478 medical visits and 2547 PRO questionnaires were collected during the follow-up from the 336 recruited patients. A between-group difference in PRO scores reaching at least 5 points on a 0-100 scale was obtained in the following domains: lupus symptoms (LLDAS: +5 points on the 0-100 scale, RONT: +9, ROFT: +5), lupus medication (LLDAS: +5, RONT: +8, ROFT: +9), pain vitality (LLDAS: +6, RONT: +9, ROFT: +6) of LupusPRO; role emotional (LLDAS: +5, RONT: +8), role physical (RONT: +7 and ROFT: +7), bodily pain (RONT: +6), mental health (RONT: +5) and social functioning (RONT: +6) of SF-36. In contrast, a between-group difference reaching at least 5 points was not achieved for any of the LupusQoL and SLEQOL domains.

CONCLUSIONS

RONT, ROFT and LLDAS were associated with significant and clinically relevant higher QoL in most PRO domains of the LupusPRO (disease specific) and SF-36 (generic) questionnaires, but not with LupusQoL and SLEQOL disease-specific questionnaires.

Financial Hardship and Sleep Quality Among Black American Women With and Without Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

To compare dimensions of financial hardship and self-reported sleep quality among Black women with versus without systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

Participants were 402 Black women (50% with validated diagnosis of SLE) living in Georgia between 2017 and 2020. Black women with SLE were recruited from a population-based cohort established in Atlanta, and Black women without SLE were recruited to be of comparable age and from the same geographic areas as SLE women. Financial hardship was measured using three different scales: financial adjustments, financial setbacks, and financial strain. Sleep was assessed continuously using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale. Each dimension of financial hardship was analyzed separately in SLE-stratified multivariable linear regression models and adjusted by sociodemographic and health status factors.

RESULTS

Dimensions of financial hardship were similarly distributed across the two groups. Sleep quality was worse in Black women with, versus without, SLE (p < .001). Among Black women with SLE, financial adjustment was positively associated with a 0.40-unit increase in poor sleep quality (95% CI = 0.12-0.67, p = .005). When accounting for cognitive depressive symptoms, financial setbacks and strain were somewhat attenuated for Black women with SLE. Overall, no associations between financial hardships and sleep quality were observed for the women without SLE.

CONCLUSIONS

Black women with SLE who experience financial hardships may be more at risk for poor sleep quality than Black women without SLE. Economic interventions targeting this population may help improve their overall health and quality of life.

Using PROMIS-29 to determine symptom burdens in the context of the Type 1 and 2 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) model: a cross sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To account for heterogeneity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and bridge discrepancies between patient- and physician-perceived SLE activity, we developed the Type 1 and 2 SLE model. We examined PROMIS-29 scores, a composite patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure, through the lens of the model.

METHODS

Patients completed PROMIS-29 and the polysymptomatic distress scale (PSD). Rheumatologists completed the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), and physician's global assessments (PGAs) for Type 1 and 2 SLE. We defined Type 1 SLE using SLEDAI, Type 1 PGA, and active nephritis, and Type 2 SLE using PSD and Type 2 PGA. We compared PROMIS-29 T-scores among Type 1 and 2 SLE groups and explored whether PROMIS-29 can predict Type 1 and 2 SLE activity.

RESULTS

Compared to the general population, patients with isolated Type 1 SLE reported greater pain and physical dysfunction but less depression and improved social functions; patients with high Type 2 SLE (irrespective of Type 1 activity) reported high levels of pain, fatigue, and social and physical limitations. Patients with minimal Type 1 and 2 SLE had less depression and greater physical functioning with other domains similar to national norms. PROMIS-29 predicted Type 2 but not Type 1 SLE activity.

CONCLUSION

PROMIS-29 similarities in patients with high Type 2 SLE, with and without active Type 1 SLE, demonstrate the challenges of using PROs to assess SLE inflammation. In conjunction with the Type 1 and 2 SLE model, however, PROMIS-29 identified distinct symptom patterns, suggesting that the model may help clinicians interpret PROs.

Association between depression and pain, functional disability, disease activity and health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of depression on pain, disease activity, functional disability and health-related quality of life measured by Visual Analogue Scale, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index, Health Assessment Questionnaire and Short Form-36 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for obtaining available studies from inception to 7 March 2023.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Studies evaluating the impact of depression on pain, disease activity, functional disability and quality of life were included.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Two authors independently screened publications and extracted data according to set inclusion and exclusion criteria. Statistical analyses were conducted with RevMan V.5.3.0. Data were pooled using a fixed-effects or random-effects model according to heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 13 identified studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on a total of 1911 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The Visual Analogue Scale score was significantly higher in patients with depression than those without depression (standardised mean difference (SMD)=0.84 (95% CI 0.27 to 1.42), p=0.004). The Health Assessment Questionnaire score was significantly higher in patients with depression than those without depression (SMD=1.05 (95% CI 0.14 to 1.95), p<0.05). The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index score was significantly higher in patients with depression than those without depression (SMD=0.46 (95% CI 0.27 to 0.64), p<0.00001). Scores in most Short Form-36 dimensions (physical function, role physical function, emotional role function, vitality, mental health, social function, general health, physical component scale, mental component scale) were lower in patients with depression than those without depression.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis showed that depression was associated with increased in pain, functional disability and disease activity, and decline in health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Awareness of the importance of the relationship between depression in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and pain, functional disability and the quality of life might assist rheumatology physicians and nurses in assessing and preventing these symptoms.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021265694.

The mediating effect of fatigue in impaired quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus: mediation analysis of the French EQUAL cohort

OBJECTIVES

Mediation analyses were conducted to measure the extent to which musculoskeletal (MSK) flares and depression affected physical health through excessive fatigue.

METHODS

Mediation analyses were performed in a large multicentre cohort of SLE patients. Domains of the LupusQoL and SLEQOL questionnaires were selected as outcomes, MSK flares according to the SELENA-SLEDAI flare index (SFI-R) score and depression defined by Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) scale as exposures and different fatigue domains from MFI-20 and LupusQoL questionnaires as mediators. For each model, total, direct, indirect effects and proportion of effect mediated by fatigue (i.e. proportion of change in health-related quality of life) were determined.

RESULTS

Of the 336 patients, 94 (28%) had MSK flares at inclusion and 99 (29.5%) were considered with depression. The proportion of the total effect of MSK flares on physical health impairment explained by fatigue ranged from 59.6% to 78% using the LupusQOL 'Physical health' domain and from 51.1% to 73.7% using the SLEQOL 'Physical functioning' domain, depending on the fatigue domain selected. The proportion of the total effect of depression on physical health impairment explained by fatigue ranged from 68.8% to 87.6% using the LupusQOL 'Physical health' domain and from 79.3% to 103.2% using the SLEQOL 'Physical functioning' domain, depending on the fatigue domain selected.

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of MSK flares and depression on physical health impairment is largely mediated by fatigue. Thus, the patient's perception of disease activity as measured by physical health is largely influenced by fatigue. In addition, fatigue has a significant negative impact on quality of lifeof SLE patients with depression.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01904812.

Researchers in rheumatology should avoid categorization of continuous predictor variables

BACKGROUND

Rheumatology researchers often categorize continuous predictor variables. We aimed to show how this practice may alter results from observational studies in rheumatology.

METHODS

We conducted and compared the results of two analyses of the association between our predictor variable (percentage change in body mass index [BMI] from baseline to four years) and two outcome variable domains of structure and pain in knee and hip osteoarthritis. These two outcome variable domains covered 26 different outcomes for knee and hip combined. In the first analysis (categorical analysis), percentage change in BMI was categorized as ≥ 5% decrease in BMI, < 5% change in BMI, and ≥ 5% increase in BMI, while in the second analysis (continuous analysis), it was left as a continuous variable. In both analyses (categorical and continuous), we used generalized estimating equations with a logistic link function to investigate the association between the percentage change in BMI and the outcomes.

RESULTS

For eight of the 26 investigated outcomes (31%), the results from the categorical analyses were different from the results from the continuous analyses. These differences were of three types: 1) for six of these eight outcomes, while the continuous analyses revealed associations in both directions (i.e., a decrease in BMI had one effect, while an increase in BMI had the opposite effect), the categorical analyses showed associations only in one direction of BMI change, not both; 2) for another one of these eight outcomes, the categorical analyses suggested an association with change in BMI, while this association was not shown in the continuous analyses (this is potentially a false positive association); 3) for the last of the eight outcomes, the continuous analyses suggested an association of change in BMI, while this association was not shown in the categorical analyses (this is potentially a false negative association).

CONCLUSIONS

Categorization of continuous predictor variables alters the results of analyses and could lead to different conclusions; therefore, researchers in rheumatology should avoid it.

Evaluation of a Physical-Psychological Integrative (PPI) intervention for community-dwelling spinal cord injury survivors: Study protocol of a preliminary randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

There is a considerably large group of community-dwelling spinal cord injury (SCI) survivors living with low quality of life. Physical inactivity, depression, and chronic pain are major problems faced by SCI survivors discharged from the acute phase of treatment or inpatient rehabilitation. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a Physical-Psychological Integrative (PPI) online group intervention on community-dwelling SCI survivors' physical activity, depression, and chronic pain.

METHODS

This is a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial with repeated measures (pre-, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up) design. Seventy-two participants will be randomly assigned to two study groups. The PPI intervention group will receive a video program for physical activity training and eight-week online group psychological interventions using skills of group-based motivational interviewing and mindfulness-based stress reduction. The control group will receive an eight-week online didactic education programed. Focus-group interviews will be conducted post-intervention to explore their views about acceptance and suggested improvements to the intervention. The feasibility of study procedures and the acceptability of interventions will be evaluated. The effectiveness of the PPI intervention will be evaluated by leisure-time physical activity, depression, chronic pain, exercise efficacy, mindfulness, and quality of life. We will use the generalized estimating equation to assess intervention effects and content analysis for interview data. This study has received ethical approval from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HSEARS20210705004) and was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05535400).

DISCUSSION

This study will be the first to provide empirical data on the evaluation of an online-group intervention integrating both physical activity promotion and psychological approaches, aimed at reducing physical inactivity, depression, and chronic pain for community-dwelling SCI survivors in Hong Kong. The findings could provide evidence supporting the use of PPI intervention as a novel online group support, in addressing both the physical and psychological needs of community-dwelling SCI survivors.

Social determinants of depression in systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic scoping review

Social determinants of health (SDOH) influence inequities in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). While these inequities contribute to overall disease experience, there is little consensus guiding our understanding of the psychological implications of SDOH in SLE. Given the paucity of evidence in this area, the aim of this scoping review was to systematically assess the volume and features of available research literature on associations of SDOH with depression in SLE over the past 20 years, from 1 January 2000 to 16 November 2021. We developed a search strategy for PubMed and EMBASE that included keywords for depression and lupus. After screening 2188 articles, we identified 22 original articles that met our inclusion criteria. At least one SDOH was associated with depression in two of the six studies with unadjusted estimates and 13 of the 16 studies with adjusted estimates. Results provide consistent but sparse evidence that SDOH are associated with depression in SLE. Additionally, depression epidemiology in SLE may differ from the general population such that depression risk is more similar across genders and racial/ethnic groups. More work is needed to identify the SDOH that have the greatest impact on depression and mental health among SLE patients, as well as how and when to intervene.

Mendelian randomization study on the causal effects of systemic lupus erythematosus on major depressive disorder

The vast majority of epidemiological studies suggested a link between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the causality for SLE on the risk of MDD remained unknown due to confounding factors or reverse causality. Herein, we investigated the causality between SLE and MDD in those of European ancestry by a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Summary genetic data of cases with SLE/MDD were derived from independent largest public genome-wide association study. Forty-six single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with SLE were used as instrumental variables. The main causal inference was carried out using the MRE-IVW method. Additional, reverse-direction MR and multivariable MR analyses were further performed. Result indicated that SLE was causally associated with a lower risk of MDD (using the MRE-IVW method, odds ratio [OR] = 0.983, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.974-0.991, p = 1.18 × 10^-4). Complementary analysis found no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy. Multivariate MR analysis yielded consistent results (OR =  0.981; 95% CI = 0.969-0.993; p = 2.75 × 10^-3). Reverse-direction MR analysis suggested non-causal relationship of MDD on the risk of SLE (using the IVW method, OR = 0.846, 95% CI = 0.345-2.072; p = 0.714). Thus, this is the first study providing evidence of potential causal links between SLE and MDD and further related research is needed.

Persistence of Depression and Anxiety despite Short-Term Disease Activity Improvement in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Single-Centre, Prospective Study

Mental disorders such as anxiety and depression are prevalent in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, yet their association with the underlying disease activity remains uncertain and has been mostly evaluated at a cross-sectional level. To examine longitudinal trends in anxiety, depression, and lupus activity, a prospective observational study was performed on 40 adult SLE outpatients with active disease (SLE Disease Activity Index [SLEDAI]-2K ≥ 3 [excluding serology]) who received standard-of-care. Anxiety and depression were determined at baseline and 6 months by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Treatment adherence was assessed with the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-4. Increased anxiety (median [interquartile range] HADS-A: 11.0 [7.8]) and depression (HADS-D: 8.0 [4.8]) were found at inclusion, which remained stable and non-improving during follow-up (difference: 0.0 [4.8] and −0.5 [4.0], respectively) despite reduced SLEDAI-2K by 2.0 (4.0) (p < 0.001). Among possible baseline predictors, paid employment—but not disease activity—correlated with reduced HADS-A and HADS-D with corresponding standardized beta-coefficients of −0.35 (p = 0.017) and −0.27 (p = 0.093). Higher anxiety and depression correlated with lower treatment adherence (p = 0.041 and p = 0.088, respectively). These results indicate a high-mental disease burden in active SLE that persists despite disease control and emphasize the need to consider socioeconomic factors as part of comprehensive patient assessment.

Physician Global Assessment International Standardisation COnsensus in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: the PISCOS study

The Physician Global Assessment International Standardisation COnsensus in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (PISCOS) study aimed to obtain an evidence-based and expert-based consensus standardisation of the Physician Global Assessment (PGA) scoring of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). An international panel of 79 SLE experts participated in a three-round Delphi consensus process, in which 41 statements related to the PGA in SLE were rated, using a 0 (strongly disagree) to 10 (strongly agree) numerical rating scale. Statements with agreement of 75% or greater were selected and further validated by the expert panel. Consensus was reached on 27 statements, grouped in 14 recommendations, for the use of the PGA in SLE, design of the PGA scale, practical considerations for PGA scoring, and the relationship between PGA values and levels of disease activity. Among these recommendations, the expert panel agreed that the PGA should consist of a 0-3 visual analogue scale for measuring disease activity in patients with SLE in the preceding month. The PGA is intended to rate the overall disease activity, taking into account the severity of active manifestations and clinical laboratory results, but excluding organ damage, serology, and subjective findings unrelated to disease activity. The PGA scale ranges from "no disease activity" (0) to the "most severe disease activity" (3) and incorporates the values 1 and 2 as inner markers to categorise disease activity as mild (≥0·5 to 1), moderate (>1 and ≤2) and severe (>2 to 3). Only experienced physicians can rate the PGA, and it should be preferably scored by the same rater at each visit. The PISCOS results will allow for increased homogeneity and reliability of PGA ratings in routine clinical practice, definitions of remission and low disease activity, and future SLE trials.

High risk of depression, anxiety, and an unfavorable complex comorbidity profile is associated with SLE: a nationwide patient-level study

Objectives

The aim of this national population-based, retrospective database study is to compare the comorbidity profiles of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and general population controls matched for age, gender, and region and assess the risk of depression or anxiety when controlled for age, gender and adjusted for the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI).

Methods

Claims data of 1051 patients diagnosed with SLE (full population between January 01, 2011, and December 31, 2014) from the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund have been analyzed against matched controls (1:5 ratio) with a follow-up of 30 months. The first record of SLE diagnosis was considered the diagnosis date. The odds ratio (OR) and 99.9% confidence interval (CI) of having depression or anxiety among patients with SLE vs. controls have been assessed using logistic regression models.

Results

SLE patients report more comorbidities than the matched general population both in pre- and post-index periods (mean CCI 1.79 vs. 1.15 and 2.78 vs. 1.22 [both p<0.001], respectively). Both SLE patients and controls diagnosed with depression or anxiety had significantly higher CCI than those without comorbid depression or anxiety (p<0.001). However, SLE patients had a twofold higher risk of depression or anxiety than matched controls when controlled for age, gender, and adjusted for CCI.

Conclusion

Our analysis indicates the enormity of comorbidity burden in SLE, especially that of anxiety and depression. The size and complexity of the comorbidity burden emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and intervention with comprehensive modalities incorporating attention to comorbidities in SLE patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13075-022-02799-6.

Self-Reported Anxiety and Depression in a Monocentric Cohort of Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Analysis of Prevalence, Main Determinants, and Impact on Quality of Life

Aims of the study

To analyze the prevalence of self-reported anxiety and depression in a monocentric cohort of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE); to study the main determinants and the impact on quality of life (QoL).

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study including adult outpatients with SLE. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed: indices of disease activity (SELENA-SLEDAI); damage (SLICC-DI); comorbidities and concomitant therapies. The definitions for remission (DORIS) and “Lupus Low Disease Activity State” (LLDAS) were applied. At enrollment, each patient completed the following questionnaires: SF-36, FACIT-Fatigue, Lupus Impact Tracker (LIT), Systemic Lupus Activity Questionnaire (SLAQ), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in order to self-assess anxiety and depression symptoms. The Student t-test and Chi² tests were conducted for univariate analysis. The Spearman test was used for linear correlation between continuous data. Multivariate analysis was performed by multiple linear and logistic regression.

Results

One hundred fifty-four consecutive patients with SLE were enrolled, the majority female and Caucasian with a mean age = 43.3 ± 13.7 years. 79.9% were in LLDAS or remission. 36.4% had a SDI > 1. 13.7% of patients had concomitant fibromyalgia. 37.4% had symptoms indicating anxiety and 25% of depression according to the HADS questionnaire. In the multivariate analysis, patients with active disease were significantly more anxious and depressed (p < 0.01) compared to patients in LLDAS or remission. Fibromyalgia and older age were independently associated with anxiety and depression, respectively (p < 0.05). Active skin involvement was significantly linked to depression (p < 0.05). Higher scores on the HADS questionnaire (higher levels of anxiety and depression) were found to be significantly linked to patients’ perception of higher disease activity and worse quality of life, irrespective of disease activity, age and fibromyalgia.

Conclusion

Symptoms of anxiety and depression are frequent in SLE patients, including outpatients with mild/moderate disease. Such symptoms have a significant negative impact on QoL and perception of disease activity, regardless of other factors. Moreover, disease activity, advanced age and fibromyalgia appear to be significantly linked to mood disorders. Assessing symptoms of the anxious-depressive spectrum in patients with SLE could lead to improvement in patients’ perception of health status and quality of life.

The impact of physical conditions on the incidence of major depressive disorder in Chinese university students: Results from a longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is prevalent, and highly comorbid with physical illnesses. Few longitudinal studies have investigated the relationship between physical health conditions and MDD. The objectives of this study were to investigate the comorbid relationship between physical conditions and MDD, and the association between physical conditions and the 2-year risk of MDD.

METHODS

A study was conducted in first-year Chinese university students (n = 8,079) over two and half years, using a longitudinal design. An adapted version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI - 3.0) was used to assess for MDD. The presence of physician diagnosed physical conditions was assessed using ten self-report questions. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between self-reported physical conditions and MDD were estimated, adjusting for possible confounders.

RESULTS

The most frequently reported physical conditions were migraines, chronic rhinitis, and gastritis. We found that migraines, gastritis, and stomach ulcers were associated with a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of MDD than those without any physical health conditions. In those without a lifetime MDD, migraines, gastritis and stomach ulcers were also found to be significant predictors for 2-year risk of new onset MDD.

LIMITATIONS

Recall and selection biases are possible when using self-reporting measures. Additionally, the COVID-19 outbreak impacted the response rate at the second follow-up assessment. Lastly, the severity of the physical conditions was not measured.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical conditions and MDD are highly prevalent and comorbid in university students. Migraines, gastritis and stomach ulcers are associated with the risk of developing MDD. Future studies should further investigate how this information can be used to prevent MDD.

Neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus in a cohort of Egyptian patients

Background

The neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is a severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that is characterized by a variety of neurological manifestations involving both central and peripheral nervous system with variable mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of NPSLE and its relation to other clinical and laboratory findings in SLE patients.

Results

We retrieved the medical records of 134 SLE patients during the study period; of them, 68 patients (50.7%) had NPSLE. Headache (55. 9%) was the most frequent NPSLE manifestation followed by seizures (54.4%), psychosis was the third most frequent one with a percentage of 41.2. The demographic data didn’t differ in patients with and without NPSLE. NPSLE patients had lower complement 3 (C3) (p = 0.025) and C4 (p = 0.008) levels, more lupus anticoagulant level (p = 0.033) and more frequency of antiphospholipid syndrome (p = 0.030). There was no statistical difference regarding the drug intake or other laboratory findings. Disease activity and damage indices didn’t differ in both groups.

Conclusion

The prevalence of NPSLE in this study was 50.7%. Headache, seizures and psychosis were the most frequent neuropsychiatric manifestations in the studied patients. SLE patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations had lower complement levels, higher lupus anticoagulant antibodies and antiphospholipid syndrome.

Patient-Reported Outcomes for Quality of Life in SLE: Essential in Clinical Trials and Ready for Routine Care

Patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments are widely used to assess quality of life in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) research, and there is growing evidence for their use in clinical care. In this review, we evaluate the current evidence for their use in assessing quality of life in SLE in both research and clinical settings and examine the different characteristics of the commonly used PRO tools. There are now several well-validated generic and SLE-specific tools that have demonstrated utility in clinical trials and several tools that complement activity and damage measures in the clinical setting. PRO tools may help overcome physician–patient discordance in SLE and are valuable in the assessment of fibromyalgia and type 2 symptoms such as widespread pain and fatigue. Future work will identify optimal PRO tools for different settings but, despite current limitations, they are ready to be incorporated into patient care.

Fatigue in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Comparison of Mechanisms, Measures and Management

Fatigue is a common constitutional feature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While the two diseases share a common mechanism of autoimmunity, they differ in their clinical manifestations and treatment. Fatigue is one of the most commonly reported symptoms in both groups, associated with pain, depression and anxiety, and affecting function, work and quality of life. Fatigue is not easy to assess or conceptualise. It can be linked to disease activity, although it is not always, and is challenging to treat. Several measures have been trialled in RA and SLE; however, none have been adopted into mainstream practice. Despite being a common symptom, fatigue remains poorly managed in both RA and SLE—more so in the latter, where there have been relatively fewer studies. Additionally, comorbidities contribute to fatigue, further complicating its management. Pain, depression and anxiety also need to be addressed, not as separate entities, but together with fatigue in a holistic manner. Here, we describe the similarities and differences between fatigue in patients with RA and SLE, discuss concepts and practices applicable to both conditions and identify areas for further research. Through this review, we aim to highlight the importance of the holistic management of fatigue in SLE.

Targeted provider education and pre-visit planning increase rates of formal depression screening in childhood-onset SLE

BACKGROUND

Despite being at high risk for depression, patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (c-SLE) are infrequently and inconsistently screened for depression by their pediatric rheumatologists. We aimed to systematically increase rates of formal depression screening for c-SLE patients in an academic Pediatric Rheumatology clinic.

METHODS

Our multi-disciplinary quality improvement (QI) team used electronic health record (EHR) documentation to retroactively calculate baseline rates of documented depression screening using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We then engaged key stakeholders to develop a clinical workflow for formal depression screening in the clinic. We also provided education to providers regarding mental health disorders in c-SLE, with an emphasis on prevalence, screening methods, and management of positive screens. We then used the Plan-Do-Study Act (PDSA) method of QI to systematically evaluate and adjust our process in real time. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients with c-SLE seen per month who had a documented PHQ-9 screening within the past year.

RESULTS

The percentage of children with documented PHQ-9 results ranged from 0 to 4.5 % at baseline to 91.0 % within 12 months of project initiation. By the end of the project, monthly screening rates greater than 80 % has been sustained for 10 months. As a result of these efforts, twenty-seven (48.2 %) patients with at least mild depressive symptoms were identified while seven (12.5 %) with thoughts of self-harm were referred to appropriate mental health resources.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine formal depression screening is feasible in a busy subspecialty clinic. Using QI methods, rates of formal depression screening among children with c-SLE were increased from an average of 3.3 % per month to a sustained monthly rate of greater than 80 %. Individuals with depressive symptoms and/or thoughts of self-harm were identified and referred to appropriate mental health resources.

Impact of depression on quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Background

Depression is common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is an unmeasured risk factor, yet its symptoms can be neglected in standard disease evaluations. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and the impact of depression on quality of life in SLE patients. We recruited 32 patients with SLE and 15 healthy control volunteers in the study. The following investigations were undertaken in each patient: clinical and rheumatologic assessment, SLE Disease Activity Index-2k (SLEDAI-2k), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire, and routine laboratory tests.

Results

There was a high percentage of depression (46.9%) in the SLE patients. Regarding quality of life (SF-36), there were significant affection of the physical and mental composite summary domains (PCS and MCS) scores in lupus patients compared with controls (P < 0.000 for both) with the same significant in depressed compared with non-depressed patients. SF-36 subscales (physical function, limit emotional, emotional wellbeing, and social function) were significantly affected in depressed lupus patients compared with non-depressed patients. There was a significant negative correlation between the score of MCS domain of SF-36 with BDI (P < 0.000) while positive correlation between SLEDAI score with depression score. In contrast, there were no significant correlations between MCS or PCS with age, duration of illness, or SLEDAI-2K.

Conclusions

Depression is common in SLE patients and had a negative impact on quality of life particularly on MCS domain and positive correlation with disease severity score.

Trial registration

This study was registered on clinical trial with registration number: NCT03165682 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03165682 on 24 May 2017.