Evaluating Quality of Life in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Modern Approaches and Perspectives

Abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with diverse clinical manifestations. Timely diagnosis and accurate assessment of disease activity are essential for determining optimal therapeutic strategies for each patient. Over recent decades, the prognosis for SLE patients has significantly improved. However, even with proper treatment and remission, quality of life (QoL) remains substantially impaired. This underscores the importance of evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as part of a comprehensive approach to managing SLE patients. A holistic understanding of a patient`s overall condition involves not only physical health but also psychological and social well-being. In recent years, numerous QoL questionnaires have been increasingly utilized in rheumatological practice. Generic questionnaires, such as the Short Form-36 (SF-36), facilitate comparisons across different diseases but may lack sensitivity to the specific clinical symptoms of SLE. Conversely, lupus-specific questionnaires, including LupusQoL, SLEQOL, LupusPRO, and L-QoL, offer more precise insights by capturing multiple aspects of the disease from the patient`s perspective. Current guidelines emphasize the need to integrate HRQoL assessments into routine clinical practice and research. The literature review highlights the growing role of lupus-specific questionnaires in clinical trials and raises the critical question of their effectiveness and applicability in daily practice to improve medical care.