Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Prevalence and Outcomes of Gastrointestinal Manifestations in an Australian Scleroderma Cohort
Authors' conclusion
GIT manifestations are common in SSc and negatively impact QoL, physical function, and employment but are not directly associated with increased death.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) from the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study who completed the UCLA gastrointestinal tract (GIT) questionnaire, 2015–2021
- Participants
- 907 consecutive patients
- Exposure
- Severity of GIT symptoms: moderate and severe to very severe vs mild
- Outcome
- Prevalence of GIT symptoms and their association with survival and patient-reported outcomes
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients, multivariable population-averaged panel models (GEE), multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression
- Consecutive patients
- Multivariable population-averaged panel models (GEE)
- Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Prevalence of GIT symptoms
GIT symptoms reported
87%
Moderate to very severe symptoms of reflux, distension, diarrhea and constipation
46% to 52%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Total UCLA GIT scores and patient-reported outcomes
- Higher total UCLA GIT scores associated with worse quality of life (QoL), physical function, fatigue, anxiety and depression
- P < 0.001
Multivariable GEE: moderate and severe to very severe total, reflux and distension scores vs mild
- Associated with worse physical function, QoL, fatigue, anxiety and depression vs mild scores
- P < 0.05
Unemployment
- Severe total scores and diarrhea scores more likely unemployed vs mild scores
- P < 0.05
Death
- UCLA GIT total scores not independently associated with death
Original publication
Prevalence and Outcomes of Gastrointestinal Manifestations in an Australian Scleroderma Cohort. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 4 October 2024. doi:10.
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