Relationship between remission, disease activity and patient-reported outcome measures in patients with recent-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Definitions of remission in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; DORIS (1A/1B/2A/2B)), disease activity assessments and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are useful in shared decision making between patients with SLE and physicians. We used longitudinal registry data from well-characterized Swedish patients with recent-onset SLE to explore potential correlations between DORIS status or disease activity, and PROMs.

Patients from the Clinical Lupus Register in North-Eastern Gothia, Sweden, who fulfilled the 1982 American College of Rheumatology and/or the 2012 Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria without prior organ damage, were enrolled at diagnosis. Data on treatments, serology, remission status (DORIS), disease activity (SLE Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K)) and PROMs (quality of life: EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D); pain intensity, fatigue and well-being: visual analog scale (VAS) 0–100 mm) were collected during rheumatology clinic visits at months 0 (diagnosis), 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60. Correlations were assessed using Pearson correlation and/or beta regression coefficients.

A total of 41 patients were enrolled (median age = 39 years, 80% female, 85% white). Achievement of DORIS 1A and 2A (neither of which includes serology) significantly correlated with all PROMs (EQ-5D: p ≤ 0.02; pain: p = 0.0001; fatigue: p = 0.0051; well-being: p < 0.0001). Disease activity measures were correlated with VAS pain intensity (p < 0.03) and VAS well-being (p < 0.04).

Our findings illustrate the importance of the interplay between remission, disease activity assessments and PROMs. PROMs may be a useful tool in clinical practice, being administered prior to patient visits to streamline clinical care.