Pulmonary involvement: A potential independent factor for quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multi-systemic autoimmune disease. SLE patients may experience a wide range of physical, psychological, and social perception of well-being influenced by the patient illness that are not always fully captured by descriptions of the disease's physiological consequences alone. Nowadays, patients with SLE have a better survival than decades ago, nevertheless still experience a low health related quality of life (HRQoL). Assessing disease activity in SLE is crucial to the physician as it forms the basis for treatment decisions, moreover careful evaluation for respiratory involvement should be routinely considered. More chronic lung disease related to SLE can have a significant negative effect on patient well-being and physical performance status and are detrimental to quality of life.

The aim of this study was to evaluate quality of life changes in SLE patients using Lupus QoL scale, assessing their correlation with different disease aspects particularly pulmonary manifestations and predictors for worse QoL.

Total of 60 SLE patients, who fulfilled the 2012 Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria, were enrolled in this study. Disease activity was measured by systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) and quality of life was assessed by Lupus QoL. Pulmonary evaluation included pulmonary function tests parameters (PFTs), mMRC dyspnea scale, HRCT score, and pulmonary damage index.

Lupus QoL had a strong significant correlations with PFTs FEV1, FVC, and DLCO (r = 0.79, 0.78, 0.76, p < .001), respectively}, while Lupus QoL had strong negative correlations with both mMRC dyspnea scale and HRCT score (r = -0.96, -0.85, p < .001), respectively, and moderate negative correlation with neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE) (r = -0.61, p < .001). Weak negative correlations were found between Lupus QoL, photosensitivity, alopecia, Raynaud's and renal affection (r = -0.29, -0.30, -0.30, 0.38, p = .03, .02, .02, .002), respectively. NPSLE and pulmonary involvement were the most consistent predictors of low HRQoL [contributing 36% and 18% of the variance of Lupus QoL], respectively.

Lupus QoL is negatively correlated with different SLE clinical parameters particularly pulmonary manifestations. Neuropsychiatric, pulmonary, renal affection, and SLEDAI are the best determinants for worse Lupus QoL.