Study On Health-related Quality Of Life And Social Support In Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective The objective of this study was to examine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and social support in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and compare it with healthy people. To identify the relationship between the physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores To identify the relationship between social support and HRQOL in SLE patients, and to assess the influence of age, SLEDAI and income on HRQOL.Methods We administered The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36) questionnaire and the Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS) to a group of 202 patients with SLE and a healthy control group of 207 individuals. Disease activity was assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index. The control group was selected from community-based healthy person. They come from the same area as patients. Information on subject age, gender, education and marital status were collected from subject self-report. Disease duration was obtained from SLE patients. All patients and control individuals were informed of the objectives of the study and verbal consent obtained. Analyses were carried out using the SPSS10.01. A probability value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results Results show that the PCS and MCS scores of MOS SF-36 were lower in patients compared with healthy controls. Patients with SLE have a poorer social support as compared with healthy controls in subjective support, objective support and availability of support. There was a positive correlation PCS and MCS scores. And there was a positive correlation between social support and PCS and MCS. MCS and PCS were negatively associated with age and SLEDAI.Conclusion This data suggested that patients with SLE have significant impairment of their HRQOL and less social support. The PCS scores is related to MCS scores .HRQOL may be affected by social support and age, SLEDAI.