Nursing problems of patients with systemic sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Connective Tissue Diseases

Background:

• Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive fibrosis of skin and internal organs.
• SSc encompasses clinical subtypes, including limited systemic sclerosis (LSSc) and diffuse systemic sclerosis (dSSc), with varying prognoses and complications.
• Vascular and morphological changes are hallmarks of SSc pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify primary health issues in Systemic Sclerosis patients based on clinical subtype (LSSc vs. dSSc).
• To analyze the impact of disease duration on symptom severity in LSSc and dSSc.
• To guide individualized patient care strategies in Systemic Sclerosis management.

Main Methods:

• Study included 63 patients diagnosed with Systemic Sclerosis per American Rheumatism Association (ARA) criteria.
• Patients were categorized into limited systemic sclerosis (LSSc) (n=47, 74.6%) and diffuse systemic sclerosis (dSSc) (n=16, 25.4%).
• Comparative analysis of health problems and symptom progression between LSSc and dSSc groups was performed.

Main Results:

• The study identified distinct health problems associated with LSSc and dSSc.
• Findings suggest a correlation between disease duration and symptom intensification, varying by clinical form.
• Individualized assessment of patient's daily life coping mechanisms is crucial.

Conclusions:

• Complex therapy for Systemic Sclerosis necessitates recognizing individual patient care challenges.
• Assessing patients' self-care capabilities and planning supportive interventions are vital.
• Nursing care should prioritize symptom alleviation, infection prevention, monitoring critical conditions, and patient education for self-management.