title: Quality of life of patients treated for giant cell arteritis: a case-control study.
abstract: The objective of the study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), following high dose of corticosteroids (CS). Thirty patients with GCA who had stopped CS or who were under long-term low dose of CS were included and matched to 60 controls. QOL was measured by the SF-36 score and a specific questionnaire. GCA patients had no impairment of QOL compared to controls according to SF-36. Most of them (57%) estimated that their general condition was improved following treatment. Patients with GCA complications or CS therapy side effects had no significant impairment of their QOL compared with patients without complications or adverse effects. Only the patients who had gained weight had a lower score on the domain "Vitality" (VT; p = 0.013). Walking difficulties were the most frequent complaints. They were associated with impaired scores on the physical summary score (p = 0.0340) and on the "General Health" (GH; p = 0.005) and "Physical Functioning" (PF, p = 0.0298) domains. Falls among GCA patients were associated with altered scores on the domain VT (p = 0.0058) and on the mental summary score if they had fallen at least three times (p = 0.0460). GCA patients following high dose of CS or under long-term low doses of CS have no significant impairment of their QOL compared to controls. GCA complications, including visual impairment, do not seem to have any major impact on QOL.
authors.affiliation: CHRU de Tours, Service de Médecine Interne, Université François-Rabelais, 2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Cedex 9, Tours, France. stephanie.jobard@univ-tours.fr.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jobard
authors.affiliation: CHRU de Tours, Service de Médecine Interne, Université François-Rabelais, 2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Cedex 9, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magnant
authors.affiliation: CHRU de Tours, Laboratoire de biochimie et biologie moléculaire, Inserm U930, Université François-Rabelais, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Blasco
authors.affiliation: CHRU de Tours, Service de Médecine Interne, Université François-Rabelais, 2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Cedex 9, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ferreira-Maldent
authors.affiliation: CHRU de Tours, Service de Rhumatologie, Université François-Rabelais, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Griffoul
authors.affiliation: CHRU de Tours, Service de Médecine Interne, Université François-Rabelais, 2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Cedex 9, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diot
authors.affiliation: CHRU de Tours, Service de Médecine Interne, Université François-Rabelais, 2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Cedex 9, Tours, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maillot
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: Corticosteroids; Giant cell arteritis; Quality of life; SF36