Assessment of Quality of Life (QoL) in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Egypt

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) has a profound impact on quality of life. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the quality of life among Egyptian SLE patients and to assess its relationships with demographic and clinical features. Methods: One hundred sixty-four SLE patients were recruited for this study. Demographic information; clinical parameters; disease activity, as evaluated by the systemic lupus erythematosus Disease Activity Index; and organ damage, as assessed by the systemic lupus international Collaborative Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index, were reported. Quality of life was assessed with a quality of life questionnaire specifically designed for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus; the questions are grouped in the following six domains: physical function, socio-occupational activities, symptoms, treatment, mood, and self-image. Higher values indicate poorer quality of life. Results: Of the 164 Egyptian SLE patients who completed the survey, 142 (86.6%) were women. The mean age of the participants was 31 +/- 8 years, the mean systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index score was 17 +/- 11, the mean systemic lupus international collaborative clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index score was 0.9 +/- 1.2, and the mean quality of life score was 18.23 +/- 6.89. Strong correlations were found between the total quality of life score and the scores for each domain of the questionnaire separately and disease activity, neurological manifestations, renal manifestations and musculoskeletal manifestations (p<0.0001); moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index score and the total quality of life score (p=0.005). Conclusion: Poor quality of life among Egyptian SLE patients and disease activity are strongly related to impaired lifestyles in these patients.