Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Anca Vasculitis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a debilitating disease that can have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal quality of life amongst those diagnosed with AAV using the EQ-5D instrument, which allows for calculation of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs.) METHOD A total of 343 patients with AAV participated in this study, of which 191 (55.7%) were male, resulting in 2746 episodes. The EQ-5D-5L standardised instrument was used to evaluate health-related quality of life in the domains of mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression and to generate a summary index score. Overall health was also rated using a visual analogue scale (0–100). EQ-5D questionnaires were completed during routine nephrology clinic attendances and through a vasculitis patient support smartphone app. We used a random effects model to control for multiple entries relating to individual patients. RESULTS A lower quality of life was seen amongst those with AAV (median index value 0.80, overall population average 0.856). The mean visual analogue scale score was 75.6 ± 17.3 (overall population average 82.8, Fig. 1). Patients’ pain and discomfort level (mean 1.95) was most affected while self-care (mean 1.33) was least affected (Fig. 1). An increase in BVAS tightly correlated with a reduction in quality of life. Using the random effects model, the index score was seen to decrease with increasing age with a 2.7% reduction in index score per decade. A 7% reduction in index score was seen during periods of disease activity compared with periods of remission. Patients with end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis had an 8% reduction in index score. A reduced quality of life was seen following COVID-19 lockdown with a 5% reduction in index score seen. Using a median survival rate of 6.16 years for patients with small vessel vasculitis, we calculated the QALYs for this population as 4.9 years.FIGURE 1: (A) Domain-specific EQ5D levels and (B) visual analogue score. Both graphs reflect mean and 95% confidence interval. CONCLUSION We have defined for the first time the EQ-5D index value over the full disease course in patients with AAV. Notably, we have identified a reduction in quality of life during periods of disease activity. Other studies have demonstrated a reduction in quality of life during active disease using the AAV–PRO questionnaire and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. A decrease in work productivity has also been noted. Previously reported mean index values of 0.72 and 0.76 were lower than our observed values, although both are significantly reduced compared with population norms. In conclusion, this research highlights the negative impact of AAV on patients’ lives.

Severe COVID-19 is characterised by inflammation and immature myeloid cells early in disease progression.

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes a wide spectrum of disease severity. Identifying the immunological characteristics of severe disease and the risk factors for their development are important in the management of COVID-19. This study aimed to identify and rank clinical and immunological features associated with progression to severe COVID-19 in order to investigate an immunological signature of severe disease. One hundred and eight patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR were recruited. Routine clinical and laboratory markers were measured, as well as myeloid and lymphoid whole-blood immunophenotyping and measurement of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and soluble CD25. All analysis was carried out in a routine hospital diagnostic laboratory. Univariate analysis demonstrated that severe disease was most strongly associated with elevated CRP and IL-6, loss of DLA-DR expression on monocytes and CD10 expression on neutrophils. Unbiased machine learning demonstrated that these four features were strongly associated with severe disease, with an average prediction score for severe disease of 0.925. These results demonstrate that these four markers could be used to identify patients developing severe COVID-19 and allow timely delivery of therapeutics.