AB1429 SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATIC DISEASES TREATED WITH GLUCOCORTICOIDS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors: K. W. Lim, S. Janagan, R. Bhogal, S. Bridgewater, C. Silverthorne, P. Richards, J. Dawson, E. Dures, C. Hill, S. Goodman, S. Mackie, M. Ndosi, J. C. Robson
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> Glucocorticoids (GCs) play a pivotal role in the management of inflammatory rheumatic conditions but they can adversely impact on patients in different ways. Conversely, there are certain patient characteristics that may be correlated with a poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL). <h3>Objectives:</h3> The objective of this study was to identify socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with HRQoL in patients undertaking GCs for a rheumatic disease. <h3>Methods:</h3> This was a cross-sectional study using online survey methods. Participants taking GCs for a rheumatic disease from Australia/New Zealand (AU/NZ), United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) were included. HRQoL was measured using the generic EuroQoL (EQ-5D-5L) converted into a linear EQ5D index value. Eight explanatory factors (age, sex, country, educational level, employment status, disease group, self-reported disease state, and dose of GCs) were tested for potential association with HRQoL using univariable and multivariable (hierarchical) analyses. Factors found to have a significant association with EQ5D index at a <i>p</i>&lt;0.05 level in the multivariable model were considered independently associated with HRQoL. <h3>Results:</h3> A total of 945 patients completed the EQ-5D-5L with no missing values: UK n=742 (79%), USA n=139 (15%), AU/NZ n=64 (7%); mean age was 57.6 (SD=13.6); 833 (88%) were women. Participants with self-reported active disease were 726 (77%). Those with inflammatory arthritis were 197 (21%), connective tissue disease and/or vasculitis were 402 (43%), giant cell arteritis and/or polymyalgia rheumatica were 346 (36%). Mean (SD) EQ5D index was 0.64 (0.25); There were significant differences between groups in age (median split, t=-3.77, <i>p</i>&lt;0.001); sex (t=3.40, <i>p</i>&lt;0.01); educational level (F[3]=10.51, <i>p</i>&lt;0.001); employment status (F[6]=37.67, <i>p</i>&lt;0.001); disease group (T[2]=20.23, <i>p</i>&lt;0.001); disease state (T=-8.46, <i>p</i>&lt;0.001); and the dose of GCs (T=2.95, <i>p</i>&lt;0.001). Worse HRQoL was associated with older age, being female, low educational attainment, being unemployed, having an inflammatory arthritis or a CTD, disease being active, and taking a higher dose of GCs. Five factors were identified as being independently associated with worse HRQoL: disease state (β=0.12, <i>p</i>&lt;0.001), disease group (β=0.06, <i>p</i>&lt;0.001), employment status (β =0.05, <i>p</i>&lt;0.001), sex (β =0.05, <i>p</i>&lt;0.001), and educational level (β =0.04, <i>p</i>&lt;0.001). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> We identified 5 factors which were independently associated with worse HRQoL in patients being treated with GCs. Over 80% of the variance was not explained by our model likely due to use of a generic HRQoL measure (EQ-5D-5L) as outcome, and the small number of explanatory factors tested within this survey. Further research is required to identify potential targets to support interventions. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>