Predictors of reduced quality of life in patients with systemic sclerosis

Aim. To study the predictors of a decrease in the quality of life of patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) in the Russian population.

Materials and methods. The study included 60 patients with a reliable diagnosis of SSc: 58 women and 2 men. The average age of the respondents was 61 ± 12.8 years. 29 patients had a P-limited form of SSc, 29 also had a diffuse form, and 2 had a form of systemic scleroderma without scleroderma. The results of clinical, laboratory and instrumental examinations were evaluated, as well as data obtained using the following questionnaires: quality of life assessments The Short Form-36 (SF-36), physical and mental components of health, the modified British Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC), a visual analog scale for assessing the severity of fatigue. The relationship of clinical manifestations and complications of the disease with the quality of life of patients has been determined.

Results. The mean values of SF-36 (physical component) and SF-36 (mental component) in the examined patients were 36.08 ± 8.84 and 31.51 ± 12.7. Factors associated with poor quality of life in the physical component are the severity of shortness of breath (p < 0.001) and the presence of subcutaneous calcifications (p < 0.05), in the mental component – weakness (p < 0.001).

Conclusion. The quality of life of patients with SSc is reduced in both physical and mental components. The severity of shortness of breath, the presence of subcutaneous calcifications and weakness are the main predictors of a decrease in quality of life.

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