Quality of life in Japanese female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Evaluation using the Short Form 36 Health Survey

Abstract

Objective. Aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are important for assessing perceived health status and treatment burden. We evaluated HRQoL using Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and factors associated with HRQoL.

Methods. We collected basic and lifestyle-related, clinical, and treatment characteristics among 119 female Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals were assessed for associations between HRQoL and selected factors.

Results. Irregularity of sleep was significantly associated with risk of lower role physical (RP) (OR = 8.27), vitality (VT) (OR = 8.45), and role emotional (OR = 10.7) domains. Compared with clerical work, non-clerical work was significantly associated with risk of lower RP (OR = 7.39), and unemployment was significantly associated with risk of lower VT (OR = 41.0). Daily soybean intake was associated with improved General Health or GH (OR = 0.17). Compared with Systemic Lupus Collaborative Clinics Damage Index (SDI) = 0, SDI > 2 was associated with risk of lower PF (OR = 7.88), RP (OR = 4.29), and bodily pain (OR = 3.06) domains.

Conclusion. Reduced HRQoL was observed in our SLE patients. Interventions addressing sleep and work disturbances, as well as daily soybean consumption, could alter the HRQoL of SLE patients.

Keywords:

• Female
• Japanese
• Quality of life
• SF-36
• Systemic lupus erythematosus

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all patients in this study. The work was presented in part at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Japanese College of Rheumatology, April 2011, Kobe, Japan.

Conflict of interest

None.

Supplementary material available online

Supplementary Figure 1, Tables 1A–1H available online at http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/14397595.2015.1060668.