Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic lupus cohort (LUMINA). XVII. Predictors of self-reported health-related quality of life early in the disease course

Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Jun 15;51(3):465-74. doi: 10.1002/art.20409.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the baseline factors predictive of self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL) early in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus patients (SLE) from a multiethnic LUMINA (Lupus in Minorities: Nature versus nurture) cohort.

Methods: LUMINA patients with > or =2 visits were studied. Self-reported HRQOL was examined with the 8 subscales and 2 summary measures (the Physical Component Summary [PCS], and the Mental Component Summary [MCS]) of the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Bivariable and multivariable analyses were done with the PCS, MCS and 8 subscales as the dependent variables. The analyses were performed including and excluding the corresponding SF-36 measure from the independent variables. Age, sex, and ethnicity were included in all models. Time was modeled in all regressions.

Results: A total of 1,351 visits (346 patients [80 Hispanics-Texas, 34 Hispanics-Puerto Rico, 126 African Americans, and 106 Caucasians]) were included in these analyses. Mean +/- SD PCS and MCS scores were 36.7 +/- 12.0 and 46.6 +/- 11.5, respectively. The scores for the eight subscales of the SF-36 were also lower than those for the general population. Baseline SF-36 measures were highly predictive of subsequent HRQOL. In the same set of regressions, older age was found to consistently predict poor self-reported HRQOL whereas fibromyalgia, helplessness, fatigue, and abnormal illness-related behaviors were also predictive, but less consistently. Estimated adjusted variances in these regressions ranged from 23% (Role-Emotional [RE]) to 43% (Physical Functioning [PF]).

Conclusion: In patients with SLE, poor baseline HRQOL was highly predictive of subsequent poor HRQOL. Other predictive variables of poor functioning were primarily psychological/behavioral and socioeconomic-demographic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Behavior
  • Black or African American*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Demography
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Hispanic or Latino*
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / ethnology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / physiopathology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / psychology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Prognosis
  • Quality of Life*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors
  • White People*