Can Patient-Reported Symptoms Be Used to Measure Disease Activity in Systemic Sclerosis?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between patient-reported symptoms and changes in disease activity over time in systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Using data from 1,636 patients enrolled in the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study, we used generalized estimating equations to determine the relationship between patient-reported worsening of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), skin involvement, and breathlessness in the month preceding each study visit and features of disease activity in the corresponding organ systems. The associations between the following parameters were analyzed: patient-reported worsening RP and the presence of new-onset digital pitting and digital ulcers; patient-reported wor..