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Gastrointestinal manifestations on impaired quality of life in systemic sclerosis
Author(s) -
Yang Hong,
Xu Dong,
Li Meng Tao,
Yao Yao,
Jin Meng,
Zeng Xiao Feng,
Qian Jia Ming
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of digestive diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1751-2980
pISSN - 1751-2972
DOI - 10.1111/1751-2980.12720
Subject(s) - indigestion , medicine , diarrhea , gastroenterology , quality of life (healthcare) , constipation , disease , reflux , gastrointestinal disease , nursing
Objective To analyze the impact of gastrointestinal manifestations on quality of life in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to provide clinical evidence for their early treatment and health‐related management. Methods Altogether 65 patients admitted to the Peking Union Medical College Hospital selected from a disease cohort and 127 matched controls were enrolled. A self‐assessment questionnaire was completed by all participants. Each participant completed scleroderma gastrointestinal tract 1.0 (SSC‐GIT 1.0) questionnaire (including reflux or indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, distention, emotional well‐being, and social functioning). Autoimmune antibodies were tested in SSc patients. Results Among these SSc cases, gastrointestinal manifestations were seen in 84.6%. Reflux/indigestion and diarrhea were more common in SSc patients than in the control group (67.7% vs 27.8%; 27.7% vs 10.2%, P < 0.05). SSc patients had a significantly higher percentage of abnormal social functioning than the control group (33.8% vs 3.9%, P < 0.05). SSc patients with abnormal social functioning and abnormal emotional well‐being had worse distention, diarrhea, and constipation statuses. Patients with reflux or indigestion and diarrhea had lower anti‐Scl‐70 level than those without (both P < 0.05). Patients with distention had higher levels of anti‐RNP and anti‐SSA than those without distention (both P < 0.05). Patients with diarrhea had higher levels of anti‐RNP than those without diarrhea ( P = 0.014). Conclusions Gastrointestinal involvement is frequent in SSc, with reflux or indigestion as the most common symptom. The impaired quality of life in patients with SSc indicates that early and active management should be considered.