Health-related quality of life in Italian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. II. Role of clinical, immunological and psychological determinants

Objective. To investigate the role of clinical, immunological and psychological variables in influencing the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Italian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 was applied in a cohort of 126 SLE patients. At the time of HRQOL testing all patients underwent a clinical and laboratory evaluation, together with the measure of disease activity, severity and damage. In addition, a battery of psychological tests including the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAM-D) was applied. Results. The parameters which seemed to greatly influence the impairment of HRQOL were older age, arthralgia–arthritis and higher HAS scores as well as HAM-D. In multivariate analysis (adjusted for age), arthralgia–arthritis and a higher HAM-D score were associated with HRQOL impairment. No relationship between HRQOL and SLE activity, severity or damage were found. However, a relationship between HAS or HAM-D scores and damage or arthralgia–arthritis was noted. Conclusion. Anxiety, depression and joint pain seem to be the major determinants of HRQOL impairment in SLE patients. Damage seems to influence HRQOL mostly through depression.