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Quality of life of patients treated for giant cell arteritis: a case-control study
Stéphanie Jobard1, Julie Magnant2, Hélène Blasco3
1CHRU de Tours, Service de Médecine Interne, Université François-Rabelais, 2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Cedex 9, Tours, France. stephanie.jobard@univ-tours.fr.
Insights
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients treated with corticosteroids (CS) report no significant quality of life (QOL) impairment compared to controls. Weight gain and walking difficulties were associated with lower QOL scores.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Clinical Medicine
- Patient Outcomes
Background:
- Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis often treated with high-dose corticosteroids (CS).
- Long-term corticosteroid use can lead to various side effects and complications.
- Assessing the quality of life (QOL) in GCA patients is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) undergoing corticosteroid (CS) therapy.
- To compare the QOL of GCA patients with a control group.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 30 GCA patients (on high-dose or long-term low-dose CS) was compared to 60 matched controls.
- Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire and a specific patient survey.
- Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors influencing QOL scores.
Main Results:
- GCA patients demonstrated no significant impairment in overall QOL compared to controls based on SF-36 scores.
- The majority of GCA patients (57%) perceived an improvement in their general condition after treatment.
- Weight gain was linked to lower "Vitality" scores, and walking difficulties impacted "General Health" and "Physical Functioning" domains.
Conclusions:
- Corticosteroid treatment in GCA patients does not significantly impair overall quality of life.
- Complications of GCA and CS therapy, including visual impairment, did not substantially affect QOL in this cohort.
- Specific symptoms like walking difficulties and weight gain warrant attention for optimizing patient well-being.
Abstract:
The objective of the study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), following high dose of corticosteroids (CS). Thirty patients with GCA who had stopped CS or who were under long-term low dose of CS were included and matched to 60 controls. QOL was measured by the SF-36 score and a specific questionnaire. GCA patients had no impairment of QOL compared to controls according to SF-36. Most of them (57%) estimated that their general condition was improved following treatment. Patients with GCA complications or CS therapy side effects had no significant impairment of their QOL compared with patients without complications or adverse effects. Only the patients who had gained weight had a lower score on the domain "Vitality" (VT; p = 0.013). Walking difficulties were the most frequent complaints. They were associated with impaired scores on the physical summary score (p = 0.0340) and on the "General Health" (GH; p = 0.005) and "Physical Functioning" (PF, p = 0.0298) domains. Falls among GCA patients were associated with altered scores on the domain VT (p = 0.0058) and on the mental summary score if they had fallen at least three times (p = 0.0460). GCA patients following high dose of CS or under long-term low doses of CS have no significant impairment of their QOL compared to controls. GCA complications, including visual impairment, do not seem to have any major impact on QOL.