Work

Systemic sclerosis markedly impairs health-related quality of life: a single-centre tertiary cohort study with literature-based comparison to leading causes of global disease burden

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune condition that significantly impacts the physical and mental health of affected individuals, disrupting their daily life and overall well-being. However, its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been thoroughly compared to other chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and stroke, the impact of which is clearly established. We explored how SSc influences HRQoL and compared its effect to that of six chronic diseases, considered the global leading causes of disease burden in high-income countries, and three common rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Methods: We collected HRQoL data from SSc patients enrolled in a cross-sectional observational study at The Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, UK. We used the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 to measure HRQoL and compared the participants' scores to published data on unipolar major depression, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, lung cancer, osteoarthritis, RA, and lower back pain. Mean norm-based transformed scores (NBS) were compared for all eight SF-36 health domains. Results: The 121 SSc patients (106 female; mean age = 57 years, standard deviation = 12.3), disease duration mean = 9.50 years, standard deviation = 7.4) in our study reported significantly worse perceived general health (mean (x̄) NBS = 32.82) than the other nine diseases reported in the literature. Role limitations due to physical problems (x̄ NBS = 34.77) were comparable to stroke, RA, and lung cancer. Significant impairments were noted in bodily pain (x̄ NBS = 36), similar to osteoarthritis, RA, and lower back pain, as well as vitality (x̄ NBS = 39.69), comparable to RA. Emotional role limitations (x̄ NBS = 41.78) were second only to major depression, similar to stroke and RA. Conclusions: We found that SSc has a substantial impact on HRQoL, resulting in significant physical and psychological impairment comparable to that experienced by patients with RA and stroke. These findings contextualise the burden of SSc and may inform future research and clinical practice aimed at improving patient care.

Source: Journal of Global Health

DOI: 10.7189/jogh.16.04228