[FRI0311] CORRELATIONS BETWEEN CLINICAL FEATURES OF154 PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS (SSC) AND SHORT FORM36 (SF36) SCORES G. Cuomo, M. Iudici, G. Abignano, A. Petrillo, G. Valentini. Rheumatology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy Background: The quality of life is reduced in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) as evaluated by both disease specific (HAQ-DI; SHAQ) or generic questionnaires. The correlations between SF-36 scores and some disease features have not yet been explored. Objectives: To evaluate the relationships between health values as evaluated by SF-36 and clinical features in SSc patients. Methods: From 9/01/07 to 8/31/08 154 consecutive SSc patients (144 females; 10 males); aged from 20–82 years (median age 54), with disease duration from 1-47 years (median 10,5 years); attending the outpatient clinic of the Rheumatology Unit of Second University of Naples, were enrolled in the study. The scores of the eight areas of SF-36 General Health: Physical Function (PF), Role Physical (RP), Bodily Pain (BP), General Health (GH), Vitality (VT), Social function (SF), Role Emotional (RE) and Mental Health (MH), were evaluated in the range of 0–100, the higher values reflecting a better Quality of life (Qol). In addition two global series i.e. the Physical Component Summary Score (PCS) and the Mental Component Summary Score (MCS) were calculated. The patients were also investigated for disease subset (limited or diffuse); skin involvement by the modified Rodnan skin score; disability by HAQ-DI; disease activity by European Activity Index, and disease severity by Medsger severity scale. Results: SF36 score did not differ between the 31 patients with diffuse vs the 123 with limited disease All the items of SF36 were significantly correlated to activity Index (Rho from –0.28 to -0.32: p<0.0001) and HAQ-DI (Rho from -0.38 to -0.82: p<0.0001). GH resulted to correlate with mRss (Rho -0.17; p<0.05) The significant correlations between each item of the Medsger's severity scale and each item of SF36 are reported in table. PF RP BP GH VT SF RE MH PCS/MCS Sev_Gen (Rho) – – – – – – – – –/– Sev_Vasc(Rho) – – – – – – – – –/– Sev_Skin (Rho) – – – – – – – – –/– Sev_Joint (Rho) – – – -0.18* – – – – -0.21**/– Sev_muscle (Rho) -0.25** – – -0.16* -0.18* -0.22* – -0.20* -0.20*/– Sev_GI (Rho) -0.20* – – -0.22** – – – – –/– Sev_lung (Rho) -0.28*** – – -0.23** -0.17* -0.23** -0.22** – -0.19*/– Sev_Heart (Rho) – – -0.22* – – – – – -0.21*/– Sev_kidney (Rho) – – – – – – – – – *p<0.05; **p<0.001; ***p<0.0001. Conclusion: The present study, confirms that the Health Value, as evaluated by SF36, is diminished in SSc. Our study point out a previously univestigated correlation between SF-36 scores and disease activity. Disclosure of Interest: NONE declared Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68(Suppl3):459 Session: Scleroderma, myositis and related syndromes

CUOMO, Giovanna;Iudici, M.;Abignano, G.;Petrillo, A.;Valentini, G.

2009