Importance of health-related quality of life and its current assessment tools in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

The paper presents an overview of studies assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It describes the HRQoL concept and prerequisites for its creation. The classification of questionnaires used in patients with SLE is considered in relation to the study objectives. The main key triad (fatigue, pain, and depression), which causes a reduction in HRQoL in SLE patients, is derived on the basis of many studies. The paper provides brief comparative characteristics of eight specific HRQoL questionnaires in SLE patients: Symptom checklist (SSC), SLEQol, LupusQol, L-QoL, LupusPRO, and Lupus Impact Tracker (LIT), LUP-QoL, and SMILEY. Special attention is paid to HRQoL assessment in patients receiving different treatment options: glucocorticoids, cytostatic and anti-B-cell therapy.

Keywords

• systemic lupus erythematosus
• quality of life
• questionnaires for assessment of quality of lif