Patient selection: SLE
Symptoms experienced during the past month (38):
(1) painful joints
(2) painful muscles
(3) headache
(4) fatigue
(5) ulcers in the mouth or throat
(6) hair loss
(7) skin rash
(8) red and painful eyes
(9) pain while breathing
(10) shortness of breath
(11) “white” fingers in cold weather
(12) itch
(13) ankle edema
(14) chubby cheeks or face
(15) more appetite
(16) less appetite
(17) pimples
(18) facial hair growth
(19) blue or purple stretch marks on the skin
(20) spontaneous bruising
(21) poor wound healing
(22) muscle weakness
(23) blurred vision
(24) nightmares
(25) mood changes
(26) nausea and vomiting
(27) stomach complaints
(28) sensitivity to sunlight
(29) sensitivity to artificial light
(30) fits
(31) fainting
(32) genital sores
(33) chest pain
(34) loss of concentration
(35) muscle cramps
(36) vulnerable skin
(37) disturbed memory
(38) weight gain
Each symptom is answered using the following scheme.
|
Response
|
Points
|
|
absent
|
0
|
|
present, not burdensome
|
1
|
|
present, a little burdensome
|
2
|
|
present, quite burdensome
|
3
|
|
present, extremely burdensome
|
4
|
total score =
= SUM(points for all 38 symptoms)
number of symptoms present =
= SUM(number of symptoms present)
Interpretation:
• minimum total score: 0
• maximum total score: 152
• The higher the score the worse the patient’s quality of life and the greater the symptom burden.
