AB0663 ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY AMONG SCLERODERMA PATIENTS IN BANGLADESH
Authors: Sigma Hossain, Minhaj Choudhury, Surayea Yeasmin, Mahmudul Haque, Farzana Hossain
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background:</h3> Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disorder that is characterized by overproduction and deposition of collagen in the skin and visceral organs, abnormalities of the microcirculation, and autoimmunity. SSc is responsible for skin, tendon, joint, and vessel damage, which leads to disability, handicap, and worsening of quality of life. <h3>Objectives:</h3> The objective of the study was to assess the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional disability among scleroderma (Systemic sclerosis, SSc) patients. <h3>Methods:</h3> A cross-sectional study was conducted among 78 patients in Scleroderma clinic of <i>BSM Medical University (BSMMU)</i>. Patients were selected according to american College of Rheumatology/European League Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for SSc. The validated Bengali version of the Short form 36 (SF-36) and Health assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were used to assess the HRQol and functional disability respectively. <h3>Results:</h3> The mean age of the patients was 36.47 11.28 years and most of them were female (91.0%). Majority of the patients (76.9%) had diffuse whereas 23.1% patients had limited SSc. Out of 78 patients, antibody profiles were available for 63 patients. The frequency of antinuclear, anti-topoisomerase and anticentromere antibody were 58.7%, 38.1%, 3.2% respectively. Sclerodactyly was present in 84.6% patients and 78.2% had pinch nose and 60.3% had calcinosis. Pitting scars of finger tips was present in 67.9% patients. Raynaud's Phenomenon was present in 89.7% patients and Musculoskeletal manifestations was present in 47.4% patients. Among the patients, 78.2% patients had microstomia and 60.3% had esophageal involvement. The mean MRSS was 21.39±13.02. SF-36 score showed that the mean Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) were 35.65 ± 23.65 and 41.36 ± 25.94 respectively. The mean HAQ-DI was found 1.40±0.95. The PCS of the SF-36 was moderately correlated with the HAQ-DI (r=-0.641, p=&lt;0.001) and the MCS of the SF-36 was weakly correlated with the HAQ-DI (r=-0.360, p=&lt;0.001) (Spearman's Correlation). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> Functional disability significantly affects health related quality of life. Treatment strategies should include multi-disciplinary approach such as physiotherapy, psychotherapy, social support and occupational therapy to reduce the functional disability which will further enhance the HRQoL of SSc patients. <h3>References</h3> [1] Medsger TA Jr (1997) Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma): clinical aspects. In:Koopman WJ(ed)Arthritis and allied conditions: a text-book of rheumatology, pp.1433–64. Williams &amp; Wilkins,Baltimore. [2] Poole JL, Steen VD (1991) the use of the Health assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) to determine physical disability in systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Care Res4,27–31. <h3>Disclosure of interests:</h3> None declared