“My world has shrunk” is the title of a mixed-methods exploration of the impact of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases on patients’ lives, which is the subject of an article in Rheumatology International.
Systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) can involve physical, cognitive and mental health symptoms which have widespread impacts on patients’ lives. The study aimed to explore how SARDs impact patients’ daily activities, work, relationships, wellbeing and identity.
Research found that SARDs patients have lower quality of life and higher depression and anxiety compared to controls even after multivariate adjustment.
This work was supported by The NIHR as exploratory work for the ADAPT (ex) trial, the Lupus Trust, LUPUS UK and Vasculitis UK. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or writing of this manuscript, aside from the charities advertising for participants.