Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(3):171-173 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3818

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Disease Impact on Patients

Želmíra Macejová¹, Michaele Záriková¹, Mária Oetterová²

¹ 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, L. Pasteur University Hospital, Košice, Slovakia

² 1st Department of Internal Medicine, L. Pasteur University Hospital, Košice, Slovakia

Aim: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can affect almost all organs of the body. Lupus is a non-curable disease and the treatment is based on symptom control by immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory treatment. The disease itself as well as treatment-related adverse events have a significant negative impact on life expectancy and quality of life of patients. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of the disease on life of SLE patients.

Methods: Data were collected anonymously using a special questionnaire. The survey involved 76 patients with SLE, results were processed by conventional methods and descriptive statistic methods.

Results: The survey has confirmed the impact of SLE on professional activities i.e. up to 63% of patients are registered disabled, of which 46% are granted full disability pension. SLE negatively affects patients' career - up to 39% of SLE patients stated that they had to change a job due to their disease. SLE has a strong impact on everyday life of patients. SLE symptoms are significant even during the period of quiescence - predominantly fatigue, reduced physical activity, pain. The most influenced activities of daily living included sunbathing and more strenuous activities or sport. The fact that limitations in all monitored activities are present in more than 50% of patients is a serious finding. Treatment-related adverse events have negative impact on the quality of life in almost 70% of patients. The most frequent events include gastrointestinal symptoms, visual disturbance and osteoporosis.

Conclusion: SLE has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and hinders them from leading everyday life at the level comparable to healthy population.

Keywords: systemic lupus erythematosus, pain, fatique, impact of the disease

Received: July 18, 2012; Revised: June 13, 2013; Accepted: June 13, 2013; Published: September 1, 2013  Show citation