TITLE:
Evaluation of the Quality of Life of Patients with Connective Tissue Disease in Abidjan
AUTHORS:
N’Guessan Michel Konan, Tiépé Rokia Ouattara, Fiacre Abbé, Georges Stéphane Koffi, Yves Gontran Lobah, Aïchata Bamba, Kpata Djami, Issouf Sanogo, Rolland Djoman, Logbochi Chantal Assy, Ubrich Venceslas Acko, Yves Binan
KEYWORDS:
Quality of Life, Connective Tissue, Internal Medicine, Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases,
Vol.15 No.4,
October
22,
2025
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Connective tissue diseases are non-specific autoimmune diseases of chronic organs responsible for a significant impact on the general condition. Very few studies have been devoted to the impact of connective tissue diseases on the quality of life of patients in sub-Saharan Africa. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of connective tissue diseases on the quality of life of patients followed in the internal medicine department of the Treichville University Hospital. Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted over a three-month period (October to December 2022), concerning patients with connective tissue disease who came for consultation during that period. Data collection was carried out using a survey form containing sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic data, accompanied by the SF-36 questionnaire. Results: Forty-three (43) patients were included, predominantly female (95%) with a mean age of 41.16 years. They were married (40%), unemployed (47%), and uninsured (81%). The predominant pathologies were Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (48.47%), Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) (30.23%), primary Sjögren’s syndrome (11.3%), 6.98% for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 3,02% for dermatomyositis. The duration of the disease was 6 years. There was a decrease in all quality of life parameters, more pronounced in the physical role and emotional role dimensions. Age, professional status, disease duration, and respiratory impairment influenced the quality of life of our patients. Primary Sjögren’s syndrome was the pathology with the lowest scores. Conclusion: Our study allowed us to show that connective tissue diseases mainly affect women and have a negative impact on the quality of life of patients.