Background: Autoimmune diseases, such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), affect the entire body. As the most noticeable aspect of the disease. SSc is characterized by a gradual fibrosis process that results in organ failure and significant damage to many organs such as the skin and joints. It is one of the most common causes of organ malfunction, disability, and even death.
Objective: This study aimed toanalyse the quality of life in Egyptian female SSc patients and their associated risk variables.
Patients and Methods: During the course of this cross-sectional study, 21 patients from the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department of the Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University Hospitals, were surveyed. The Systemic Sclerosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (SScQoL) and the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) were used to evaluate SSc patients' quality of life and disease activity (SAQ).
Results: There was statistically significant relation between studied SSC patients' quality of life (SScQoL) and deformity (p=0.022), muscle wasting (p=0.027), dyspnea (p=0.023) and nausea and vomiting (p=0.038). Also, there was a statistically significant relation between SScQoL high score and type of medication especially cyclophosphamide and biologic treatment. There was a statistically significant higher Systemic Sclerosis Quality of life Score of Systemic Sclerosis patients and positive anti scleroderma. There was statistically significant and direct correlation between SScQol score and scleroderma assessment questionnaire (SAQ).
Conclusion: Patients with SSc have plenty of other symptoms that point to a lowered quality of life. In our studied population, nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, deformity and muscle wasting were the most prominent features.