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

Objective Health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) is reduced in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), partly driven by comorbid depression. Among patients with SLE, the association between major depression and HRQoL, measured using the NIH’s Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), is not well characterized. The objective was to determine an association between major depression and HRQoL as measured by PROMIS. Methods Cross‐sectional data were obtained from the California Lupus Epidemiology Study, a cohort of adults in the San Francisco Bay Area with SLE. We studied the association between major depression (score ≥10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 depression scale) and T scores (scaled to population mean ± SD of 50 ± 10) on 12 PROMIS domains representing physical, mental, and social health. Mean T scores in depressed and nondepressed individuals were compared using multiple linear regression models adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, disease activity, damage, body mass index, and household income. Results Mean age of the 326 participants was 45 years; ~89% were women, 29% White, 23% Hispanic, 10% African American, and 36% Asian. One‐fourth met the criteria for major depression. In multivariable analyses, major depression was independently associated with worse T scores on all 12 PROMIS domains (P < 0.001); compared with those without major depression, depressed individuals scored >10 points (1 SD) worse on fatigue, sleep impairment, negative psychosocial impact of illness, satisfaction in discretionary social activities, and satisfaction in social roles. Conclusion In individuals with SLE, major depression is associated with markedly worse PROMIS scores in physical, mental, and social domains. Diagnosing and treating depression may help improve HRQoL in individuals with SLE.