Quality of life and socioeconomic factors in Polish patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Quality of life, fatigue, sleep quality, and mental health in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with a high cardiovascular risk profile

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients report worse health-related quality of life (HRQL), fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality, when compared to the general population and other chronic diseases. Furthermore, cardiometabolic diseases are highly prevalent in SLE and are also associated with these parameters. Thus, it is plausible to suggest that SLE patients with a high cardiovascular risk may report worse results for these parameters. The aim of the study is to describe HRQL, fatigue, anxiety and depression symptoms, and sleep quality in a sample of SLE patients with a high cardiovascular risk profile (i.e., BMI between 25 and 40 kg/m2 and/or dyslipidemia, hypertension, or diabetes). This was a cross-sectional study where patients were assessed for (i) demographic, anthropometric, and disease-related parameters, (ii) HRQL, (iii) fatigue, (iv) anxiety and depression symptoms, and (v) sleep quality. One-hundred patients completed the study; however, only 87 patients were assessed for sleep quality data. Patients averaged 41.7 ± 9 years, and most patients were classified as overweight/obese (87%). SF-36 scores for physical and mental components summary were 51.3 ± 9.6 and 54.2 ± 15.6, respectively, with "bodily pain" and "role emotional" presenting the lower scores. The total SLEQOL score was 105.1 ± 42.0, with lower scores reported for "self-image" and "mood." Fatigue score was 30.8 ± 8.9, and 78% and 93% reported severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. The average sleep effectiveness was 82.9 ± 6.6%. Sleep latency, total time in bed (TTiB), and total sleep time (TST) were 8.4 ± 8.9, 495.8 ± 79.7, and 409.7 ± 69.9 min, respectively. Patients reported an average of 17.8 ± 6.2 WE, with 4.5 ± 1.5 min duration and a WASO of 77.7 ± 36.6 min. Despite similar HRQL, fatigue, and sleep quality parameters to those reported by other SLE populations, SLE patients with a high cardiovascular risk had a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety. Understanding SLE patients' quality of life and psychological symptoms is of utmost importance to improve disease management. The findings of this study highlight the need for more intensive and global care regarding mental health when considering a high cardiovascular risk in SLE.

Addressing health disparities as a function of ethnicity in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder with significant health disparities, as it disproportionately and more severely affects vulnerable and disadvantaged population groups in the United States and around the world, that is, women, ethnic minorities, individuals living in poverty, less educated, and lacking medical insurance. Both, genetic and non-genetic factors, contribute to these disparities. To overcome these health disparities and reduce poor outcomes among disadvantaged SLE populations, interventions on non-genetic amendable factors, especially on social health determinants, are necessary.

Severe flares are associated with a poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with SLE: data from the Almenara Lupus Cohort

BACKGROUND

Flares in patients with SLE, regardless of their severity, have been associated with damage accrual. However, their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been fully evaluated. In fact, disease activity is only minimally associated with HRQoL.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between flares and HRQoL.

METHODS

Patients from the Almenara Lupus Cohort were included. Visits occurring between December 2015 and February 2020 were evaluated. Flares were defined as an increase on the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) of at least 4 points; severe flares were those with a final SLEDAI-2K ≥12 and mild-moderate flares all the others. HRQoL was measured using the LupusQoL. Univariable and multivariable generalised estimating regression equations were performed, adjusting for possible confounders. Confounders were determined at one visit, whereas the outcome was determined on the subsequent visit; flares were determined based on the variation of the SLEDAI-2K between these visits.

RESULTS

Two hundred and seventy-seven patients were included; 256 (92.4%) were female, mean age at diagnosis was 36.0 (SD: 13.3) years and mean disease duration at baseline was 9.1 (SD: 7.1) years. Patients had mean of 4.8 (SD: 1.9) visits and a mean follow-up of 2.7 (1.1) years. Out of 1098 visits, 115 (10.5%) flares were defined, 17 were severe and 98 mild-moderate. After adjustment for possible confounders, only severe flares were associated with a poorer HRQoL in planning, pain, emotional health and fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe flares, but not mild-moderate, flares are associated with poorer HRQoL.

Quality of life in lupus erythematosus female patients with cutaneous lesions in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Background: Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects more women than men. The quality of life (QoL) of patients with lupus erythematosus and skin manifestations is impaired, but little is known about Malagasy patients.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of cutaneous lesions on the QoL of patients who present with LE.

Methods: A transversal study, during 3 months, was conducted in patients who presented with LE and cutaneous lesions at the University Hospital Antananarivo. QoL was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scales.

Results: The impact of cutaneous lesions on the QoL was assessed in 37 patients with LE, of whom 34 were women. The mean age of patients was 37.32 years. The mean DLQI was 5.43 ± 4.67 (range, 0–21). Of the patients, 2.7% had a very important effect (DLQI >21), 18.9% reported a great effect of skin symptoms of LE in their QoL (DLQI: 11–20), 18.9% had a moderate effect (DLQI: 6–10), 40.4% had a small effect (DLQI: 2–5), and 18.9% had no effect of cutaneous lesions on their QoL. Daily activities, symptoms, and feelings were the most altered dimensions. The alteration in patients’ QOL was influenced by high monthly income, severe medical history, and localization of the cutaneous lesions on the face and neckline. No correlation was found between sex and QoL.

Conclusion: This study shows that significant impairment of QoL was found in patients with LE and cutaneous manifestations, which affected their sense of well-being.

Association of Poverty Income Ratio with Physical Functioning in a Cohort of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of income relative to the poverty threshold [poverty income ratio (PIR)] with self-reported physical functioning (PF) in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

METHODS

We used cross-sectional data on 744 participants from Georgians Organized Against Lupus (GOAL), and secondary analyses used data on 56 participants from a nested pilot study. Primary analyses used multivariable linear regression to estimate the association between PIR (categorized as < 1.00, 1.00-1.99, 2.00-3.99, and ≥ 4.00; lower PIR indicate higher poverty) and PF (scaled subscore from the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12 survey; range 0-100, higher scores indicate better functioning). Secondary analyses summarized complementary measures of PF as means or percentages by PIR (categorized as < 1.00, 1.00-1.99, and ≥ 2.00).

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 48.0 years; 6.7% were male; 80.9% were black; and 37.5%, 21.0%, 29.6%, and 12.0% had PIR of < 1.00, 1.00-1.99, 2.00-3.99, and ≥ 4.00, respectively. The overall mean PF score was 45.8 (36.2, 40.7, 55.5, and 61.2 for PIR of < 1.00, 1.00-1.99, 2.00-3.99, and ≥ 4.00). With adjustment, higher PIR remained associated with higher PF scores [2.00-3.99 vs 1.00-1.99: β = 10.9 (95% CI 3.3-18.6); ≥ 4.00 vs 1.00-1.99: β = 16.2 (95% CI 6.4-26.0)]. In secondary analyses, higher PIR was also associated with higher scores for objective physical performance.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that higher income relative to the poverty threshold is associated with better PF across multiple domains, warranting further research into multicomponent functional assessments to develop individual treatment plans and potentially improve socioeconomic disparities in outcomes.

The impact of SLE on health-related quality of life assessed with SF-36: a systemic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessed with SF-36 and explore factors associated with HRQoL in SLE patients.

METHODS

A random-effect meta-analysis was performed to calculate extracted data. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to distinguish sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 36 articles were finally included in this meta-analysis, including 6510 patients. The pooled mean scores of SF-36 physical component summary and mental component summary were 46.10 (95% confidence interval (CI): 43.09-49.10) and 50.37 (95% CI: 47.78-52.87), respectively. Spearman's correlation analysis found that mean age, proportion of female participants, and publication decades were negatively associated with some of the SF-36 domains. Sample size and SLEDAI were positively associated with some of the SF-36 domains. Patients with SLE have lower HRQoL in comparison to the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

SLE has a significant impact on HRQoL, which proves that the necessity of improving HRQoL in SLE patients cannot be ignored. Measuring HRQoL should be considered as an indispensable part of the overall evaluation of health conditions of SLE patients.

The Impact of Cytokines on the Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) reduces the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), even during periods of disease quiescence. We investigated whether subclinical inflammation as reflected by cytokine levels is linked with reduced HRQoL. Methods: A cross-sectional study of SLE patients (n = 52, mean age 47.3, 86.5% female) who completed a Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. The clinical and demographic data, scores for the disease activity (SLEDAI-2K), organ damage (SDI), and laboratory data were collected simultaneously. The autoantibody and cytokine levels (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, BAFF, TNF-α, TGF-β1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β and MCP-1 (levels in pg/mL) were quantified by sandwich ELISA. The comparisons and associations were assessed non-parametrically, and a multiple regression determined the effect sizes (ES) of the variables on the SF-36 domain and summary scores. Results: The SF-36 summary and domain scores for SLE patients were significantly (20–40%) lower than in a comparable control group, with the exception of the Mental Health scores (p = 0.06). SLE patients had a normal body mass index (BMI) (median, 24.2 kg/m²), a high rate of smoking (69.2%), and usage of social security benefits (90.4%). TGF-β1 (ES 0.06), IL-12 (ES −0.11), IFN-γ (ES 0.07) and MCP-1 (ES 0.06) influenced the SF-36 domain scores; and MCP-1 (ES 0.04) influenced the Mental Health Summary Score (MCS). Obvious manifestations, including patient visual analogue scale (VAS) (ES −2.84 to −6.29), alopecia (ES −14.89), malar rash (ES −14.26), and analgesic requirement (ES −19.38), independently influenced the SF-36 items; however, the SF-36 scores were not reflected by the physician VAS or disease activity (SLEDAI-2K). Conclusions: Cytokines had a minimal impact on HRQoL in SLE patients, especially compared to visible skin manifestations, central nervous system (CNS) damage, and pain. Better tools are needed to capture HRQoL in measures of disease activity.

[Quality of life measures in SLE: An update]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease that considerably hampers patient's daily living. Qualitative studies with patients' interviews have been conducted to describe the experiences and perspectives of adults living with SLE. Among existing generic and disease-specific quality of life (QOL) questionnaires, none succeeded to exhaustively measure patient's preoccupations. However, these tools are useful to quantify the burden of the disease. Social precariousness, socioeconomic status and education level are intimately correlated to QOL measures, either generic or disease-specific. Musculoskeletal disease activity is also associated with a lower QOL. Using disease-specific tools may be useful because of a better aptitude to record an improvement in health status. Moreover, using generic and disease-specific questionnaires together may help to identify factors associated with a lower quality of life but not related to SLE from the patient's perspective (such as smoking or obesity). Developing new ways of recording QOL data in the future may help to evaluate the real benefit of using QOL scales in daily practice.

Influence of Education on Disease Activity and Damage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Data From the 1000 Canadian Faces of Lupus

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether socioeconomic status assessed by education is associated with disease activity and the risk of organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

Data from the 1000 Canadian Faces of Lupus, a multicenter database of adult SLE patients, was used to compare education as either low (did not complete high school) or high (completed high school or further) for disease activity and damage. Education was also studied as a continuous variable. The relationships between education and SLE outcomes (any organ damage defined as a Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index [SDI] score ≥1, serious organ damage [SDI score ≥3], and end-stage renal disease) were evaluated using logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and disease duration.

RESULTS

A total of 562 SLE patients met inclusion criteria (mean age 47 years, 91% female, and mean disease duration of 10 years); 81% had high education. The low education group was twice as likely to be work disabled (30%; P < 0.0001); they had higher disease activity and reduced renal function. Linear regression analysis revealed that low education was significantly associated with higher disease activity at enrollment into the 1000 Canadian Faces of Lupus database, after adjustment for age (at entry and at diagnosis), race/ethnicity, and sex (B 1.255 + 0.507 [SE], β = 0.115, P = 0.014). In our adjusted logistic regression models we were unable to demonstrate significant associations between education and SLE damage. Results did not change when varying the education variable.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort, low education was associated cross-sectionally with higher disease activity and work disability, but not damage.

Quality of life and satisfaction with life in SLE patients-the importance of clinical manifestations

To assess the correlation between quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with life (SL) in SLE patients and correlate both with clinical symptoms of the disease. The study was performed in 83 patients. QoL was assessed by Short Form 36, and SL was assessed by the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Clinical manifestations presented at the time of examination were taken into consideration. SLE patients assessed their QoL and SL as rather low. Those with photosensitivity as well as neurological symptoms presented lower QoL in particular domains, while those with renal manifestation of SLE assessed their QoL as higher. Similar observations were made for SL only in relation to neurological symptoms. Moreover, our findings show that although SL is a part of QoL, both these parameters should be distinguished in order to fully assess the state of the patient.