OP0101-HPR QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS WITH DIFFERENT DEGREES OF LUNG DISEASE - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors: C. Boström, H. Pettersson, E. Svenungsson, H. Alexanderson, A. Nordin
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: There are few studies evaluating different aspects of quality of life including depressive symptoms and physical capacity and physical activity in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with different degrees of lung disease. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in self-reported disability, physical capacity and activity, depressive symptoms and quality of life, between patients with SSc with no-mild lung disease and those with moderate-endstage lung disease. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 279 patients with SSc fulfilling the 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria for SSc (84% limited and 16% diffuse SSc) were included. Medsger disease severity scale was used to subgroup the patients into no-mild (n=156) or moderate- endstage lung disease (n=115). Disability was measured with Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI); physical capacity (ability to walk, jog/run); and physical activity (different intensities) was measured with three single questions; depressive symptoms with Hospital Anxiety and Depression-scale (HADs); and quality of life was measured with The Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36). Results: Patients with moderate-endstage lung disease reported higher scores on HAQ-DI (p&lt;0.001) and lower scores on SF-36 physical component (p&lt;0.0001) than patients with no-mild lung disease. Patients with moderate-endstage lung disease reported lower physical capacity (p&lt;0.0001), less physical activity on low to moderate intensity the past 6 months (p&lt;0.016) and less exercise on moderate to high intensity the past year (p=0.022) compared to those with no-mild lung disease. There was no difference between the two subgroups when it comes to the mental component in SF-36 (p=0.2), however patients with moderate-endstage lung disease had lower scores on the subscales vitality ((p=0.003), social function (p=0.002) and emotional role function (p=0.005) as well as higher scores on the HADs depressive symptoms scale (p=0.024), than the patients with no-mild lung disease. Conclusion: Patients with SSc with moderate-endstage lung disease report more disability, lower physical capacity and activity, are more depressed and the physical aspects of quality of life is lower, as well as vitality, social function and emotional role function, compared to patients with no-mild lung disease. Studies evaluating whether increased physical activity and exercise may improve depressive symptoms and aspects of quality of life in patients with moderate-endstage lung disease are needed. References: [1]Liem SIE, Meessen JMTA, Wolterbeek R, Ajmone Marsan N, Ninaber MK, Vliet Vlieland TPM, de Vries-Bouwstra JK. Physical activity in patients with systemic sclerosis. Rheumatol Int. 2018;38:443-453 [2]March C, Huscher D, Preis E, Makowka A, Hoeppner J, Buttgereit F, Riemekasten G, Norman K, Siegert E. Prevalence, Risk Factors and Assessment of Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis. Arch Rheumatol. 2019;28;34:253-261 Acknowledgments: Thanks to the patients involved in the study, patient research partner Monica Holmnér and the staff at the rheumatological clinic, Karolinska University Hospital Disclosure of Interests: None declared