[Evaluations and analyses of quality of life in 90 patients with systemic sclerosis by health assessment questionnaire-disability index].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) using health assessment questionnaire-disability index (HAQ-DI), visual analog scale (VAS) and scleroderma assessment questionnaire (SAQ).

METHODS

The questionnaires of HAQ-DI, VAS and SAQ were administered to 50 controls and 90 SSc patients from September to December 2013. And SSc patients were also evaluated for subset (limited & diffuse SSc), age, disease duration, autoantibodies and skin & internal organ involvement.

RESULTS

The physical summary scores of HAQ-DI in dressing, cleaning and hand functions domains were higher in SSc patients than those in controls (all P < 0.05). As for VAS, the specific clinical manifestations (Pain,0.60 (0.20-1.40); Raynaud's phenomenon, 9.00(4.00-11.00); finger ulcers, 1.00(0.00-5.00); gastrointestinal symptoms, 5.00(1.00-6.50); respiratory symptoms, 3.00(0.00-6.00)) of SSc patients impacted their HRQOL. SAQ showed higher scores in blood vascular, respiratory, digestive and musculoskeletal systems for SSc patients (1.00(0.75-1.50), 0.50(0.33-0.67), 0.40(0.20-0.80), 0.13(0.00-0.38) vs 0.00(0.00-0.00), all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

HRQOL is impaired in patients with SSc, especially in physical domains. And higher scores in SSc patients with specific organ involvement suggest that severe disease has worse HRQOL.