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Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the factors associated with disability and quality of life (QoL) in Turkish patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Patients and methods: Between January 2018 and January 2019, a total of 256 SSc patients (20 males, 236 females; mean age: 50.9±12.4 years; range, 19 to 87 years) who were diagnosed with SSc were included in the study. Disability and health-related QoL (HRQoL) were evaluated by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), scleroderma HAQ (SHAQ), Duruöz Hand Index (DHI), and Short Form-36 (SF-36). Linear regression analysis methods were used to describe factors associated with disability and QoL of the patients. Results: All disability scores were higher and HRQoL scores were lower in diffuse cutaneous SSc patients compared limited cutaneous SSc, and differentiations were significant (p=0.001 and p=0.007). In multiple regression, pain (VAS) was the strongest predictor for high disability and low QoL scores (p<0.001) as HAQ (β=0.397, 0.386, 0.452), SHAQ (β=0.397, 0.448, 0.372), DHI (β=0.446, 0.536, 0.389), PCS (β=-0.417,-0.499, -0.408) and MCS (β=-0.478, -0.441, -0.370) in combined, lcSSc and dcSSc patients respectively. The factors associated with high disability and low QoL scores were forced vital capacity for HAQ (β=-0.172, p=0.002) and SF-36 PCS (β=0.187, p=0.001); disease duration for HAQ (β=0.208, p<0.001), DHI (β=0.147, p=0.006), and SF-36 PCS (β=-0.134, p=0.014); 6-minute walk test for HAQ (β=-0.161, p=0.005) and SF-36 PCS (β=0.153, p=0.009); and modified Rodnan skin score for SHAQ (β=0.250, p<0.001) and DHI (β=0.233, p<0.001) in SSc patients. Diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide for HAQ (β=-0.189, p=0.010) and SHAQ (β=-0.247, p=0.002); erythrocyte sedimentation rate for DHI (β=0.322, p<0.001); age for SF-36 PCS (β=-0.221, p=0.003) and body mass index for SF-36 PCS (β=-0.200, p=0.008) and MCS (β=-0.175, p=0.034) were the other variables associated with high disability or low QoL scores in SSc subsets. Conclusion: Clinicians should consider the management of the pain and its sources as a key to improve better functional state and quality of daily life in SSc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the self-comorbidity questionnaire (SCQ) into Turkish and investigate the validity and reliability of SCQ and its modified version (mSCQ) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Psoriatic arthritis quality of life (PsAQoL) and short form 36 (SF-36) were used to assess the quality of life. The physical disability was evaluated with the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). The reliability of the SCQ scale was assessed by test–retest reliability. For construct validity, the correlations of SCQ with the HAQ, SF-36, PsAQoL, age, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, disease activity in psa (DAPSA), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), dactylitis and enthesitis were evaluated. The mSCQ was also used by removing the items related to rheumatic conditions. For the test–retest reliability of the Turkish version of SCQ, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.965, p < 0.001. The SCQ and mSCQ had significant correlations with HAQ, PsAQoL, some subscales of SF-36, and age (p < 0.05), but not with disease duration, BASDAI, PASI and dactylitis (p > 0.05). Although SCQ had a low correlation with DAPSA (rho = 0.262, p = 0.031), mSCQ was not correlated with DAPSA (p > 0.05). mSCQ was significantly correlated with BMI (rho = 0.233, p = 0.016), but SCQ was not (p > 0.05). The Turkish version of SCQ had adequate reliability and validity, and the mSCQ improved the validity of the scale in patients with PsA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the autonomic dysfunction as assessed by the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score-31 (COMPASS-31) as well as its relationship with disease activity and cardiovascular risks in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). This cross-sectional observational study involved 118 PsA patients (85 females, mean age 45.6 years) and 64 healthy subjects. Cardiovascular risks were recorded including body mass index (BMI), hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and 10-year Framingham Risk scores (FRS) were calculated. PsA was assessed with regard to disease activity, quality of life, and function. Autonomic dysfunction was evaluated using the COMPASS-31 consisting of six subdivisions including orthostatic, vasomotor, secretomotor, gastrointestinal, bladder, and pupillomotor functions. The mean disease duration was 63.3 months. The mean total COMPASS-31 score was significantly higher in PsA patients than in controls (24.4 vs 11.1; p < 0.001), as were all sub-domain scores. COMPASS-31 scores were significantly lower in patients with DAPSA-REM and MDA. The COMPASS-31 total score showed significant correlations with scores of pain, global assessment, fatigue, function, quality of life, DAPSA, and BASDAI (p < 0.05).The presence of HT, dyslipidemia, MetS, and abdominal obesity did not significantly affect the total COMPASS-31 and sub-domain scores, except for the secretomotor scores being significantly higher in patients with abdominal obesity and MetS (p < 0.05). COMPASS-31 scores were not significantly different across the FRS risk groups. The symptoms of autonomic dysfunction are prevalent in PsA patients. High disease activity and pain have negative effects on autonomic function, and also functional impairment, fatigue, and poor quality of life are associated with autonomic dysfunction. However, the COMPASS-31 was found to be insufficient to demonstrate a clear relationship between autonomic dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]