Author/Authors :
Aflaki, Elham Department of Rheumatology - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran , Farahangiz, Saman Department of MP - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran , Salehi, Alireza Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Behçet’s disease (BD) can negatively impact the
quality of life (QoL) of the affected patients. The present study
aimed to assess the QoL of BD patients using the Leeds BD-QoL
and compare its results with the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire.
Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 179 BD patients and
304 healthy individuals (the control group) were recruited in Shiraz,
2017. The Persian version of the Leeds BD-QoL and WHOQOLBREF questionnaires were used to assess the QoL of patients with
BD. The QoL in the patient and control groups was compared
after controlling the effect of some variables (age, sex, marital
status, and educational level) using the multiple linear regression
analysis. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was calculated for the
Leeds BD-QoL and WHOQOL-BREF scores. Disease activity was
measured using the Behçet’s Disease Current Activity Form. All the
statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version
21.0). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean of the Leeds BD-QoL total score in the
patient group was 12.3±8.7. The control group had significantly
higher scores in the WHOQOL-BREF total score and the
physical health and psychological health domains compared
with the patient group; mean difference of 10.24, 10.8, and 4.62,
respectively (P<0.001). The Spearman’s correlation coefficient
for the Leeds BD-QoL score and WHOQOL-BREF total score
and its domains (physical health, psychological health, social
relationships, and environment) was -0.669, -0.713, -0.714,
-0.536, and -0.550, respectively. The disease activity score was
correlated with the Leeds BD-QoL score (r=0.361, P<0.001).
Conclusion: BD patients had a lower QoL than healthy
individuals, specifically in the physical health and psychological
health domains. An increase in disease activity and severity was
associated with a reduced QoL. The Persian version of the Leeds
BD-QoL questionnaire had an acceptable correlation with the
WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire.
