(180) Determination of patients’ quality of life (QOL) and its influencing risk factors associated with QOL in patients with autoimmune systemic vasculitis: a cross-sectional study

Publication Number: 841

Background: Autoimmune systemic vasculitis is a chronic inflammation of the blood vessel wall causing narrowing of blood vessels resulting in thrombosis, necrosis and rupture of blood vessels. It also posses high disease activity and rapid deterioration of blood vessels that may cause significant worsening of patient’s quality of life (QoL).

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the patient’s QoL and its influencing risk factors associated with QoL in autoimmune systemic vasculitis patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the rheumatology department in a tertiary care teaching hospital for 36 months. Patients of either gender or aged ≥16 years diagnosed with autoimmune systemic vasculitis and admitted to hospital or visited outpatient department were included in this study. Clinical pharmacist participated with rheumatologist-led team to identify study eligible patients and to collect study relevant patient data on data collection from. Patients’ QoL was assessed using World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) from each patient after their enrolment into the study. It contained 26 item instruments and was categorized into four main domains including physical, psychological, social relationships and environmental health. SPSS V25 was used for statistical analysis. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify risk factors for QoL.

Results: : Of the 118 autoimmune systemic vasculitis patients enrolled, majority of patients were females 101 (85.6%). The mean age of patients was 35.2 (SD±14.38) years. Majority 105 (88.9%) of patients were taking more than 5 drugs and presented with more than 3 comorbidities 68 (57.6%). The overall mean score of QoL was found to be 27.75 (SD± 11.71). The mean score of environmental QoL was 32.79 (SD± 14.75) and the least was physical health 24.5 (SD± 7.5) among all four domains. Low economic status and stress were the most common significant (p < 0.0001) risk factors associated with poor QoL.

Conclusions: Autoimmune systemic vasculitis patients associated with poor QoL. Low economic status and stress were the most common risk factors related to poor QoL. Therefore, multidisciplinary approaches in disease management and patient counseling on lifestyle modification can help to enhance patients’ QoL among autoimmune systemic vasculitis.