Table 1.
Clinical and demographical characteristics of 160 patients afflicted with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) and 62 non-SSc-suffering control individuals.
| Investigated Factors | SSc n = 160 | Non-SSc-Suffering Controls n = 62 | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Females | 138 (86.3%) | 49 (79.0%) | 0.186 |
| Age, years | 55.8 ± 13.0 | 54.6 ± 13.7 | 0.411 |
| Disease duration, years | 10.5 ± 7.6 | - | - |
| Diffuse cutaneous SSc | 88 (55%) | - | - |
| Body Mass Index, kg/m2 | 25.8 ± 5.1 | 27.1 ± 4.4 | 0.326 |
| Living alone | 67 (41.9%) | 29 (46.8%) | 0.596 |
| Employed | 50 (31.3%) | 37 (59.7%) | <0.001 |
| Sleeping disorder | 79 (49.4%) | 17 (27.41%) | 0.008 |
| Modified Rodnan Skin Score >14 | 22 (13.75%) | - | - |
| Revised EUSTAR Activity Index | 2.5 (1.3; 3.9) | - | - |
| Pulmonary fibrosis, proven with HRCT | 97 (60.6%) | - | - |
| Forced Vital Capacity, % | 104.7 (88.0; 114.0) | 118 (105.0; 129.0) | <0.001 |
| Diffusing Capacity for Carbon Monoxide, % | 66 (51.0; 77.0) | 87 (80.5; 95.0) | <0.001 |
| Cardiac involvement | 114 (71.3%) | - | - |
| E-A Ratio | 1 (0.8; 1.3) | - | - |
| Diastolic dysfunction | 107 (66.9%) | - | - |
| Left Ventricular Mass Index (LVMI) | 100 (88.7; 112.4) | - | - |
| Six-minute Walk Test, m | 428 (347; 523) | 600 (510; 660) | <0.001 |
| GI involvement | 47 (29.4%) | - | - |
| UCLA SCTC Gastrointestinal tract 2.0 | 0.2 (0.1; 0.5) | 0.04 (0; 0.2) | <0.001 |
| Hemoglobin, g/L | 130 (124.0; 139.8) | 142 (130.3; 147.8) | <0.001 |
| Albumin, g/L | 43.5 (41.6; 46.0) | 48 (45.4; 49.7) | <0.001 |
| Disease Activity Score 28 | 2.7 (20; 3.8) | 1.7 (1.3; 2.3) | <0.001 |
| Health Assessment Questionnaire, (0–3) | 0.75 (0; 1.38) | 0 (0; 0) | <0.001 |
| Manual Muscle Testing-8 (0–150) | 122.0 (110.0; 133.0) | 135 (122.5; 143.5) | <0.001 |
| Pinch strength, N | 61.7 (46.7; 75) | 71.6 (60.8; 83.3) | <0.001 |
| Chochin Hand Function Scale, (0–90) | 5(0; 17.0) | 0 (0; 0) | <0.001 |
| Absence of major autoantibodies | 28 (17.5%) | - | - |
| Only anti-nuclear antibodies | 39 (24.4%) | - | - |
| Anti-DNA topoisomerase I | 41 (25.6%) | - | - |
| Anti-centromere antibodies | 32 (20.0%) | - | - |
| Anti-RNA Polymerase III | 16 (10.0%) | - | - |
| Absence of major autoantibodies | 28 (17.5%) | - | - |
| Mini Mental State Examination (0–30) | 28 (27; 29) | 29 (28; 29) | 0.014 |
| VAS Digital Ulcer (0–100) | 0 (0; 7.5) | - | - |
| VAS Raynaud’s (0–100) | 18.5 (0.3; 45.0) | - | - |
| VAS Pain (0–100) | 19 (2; 50) | 0 (0; 1) | <0.001 |
| VAS Fatigue (0–100) | 24 (3; 56.3) | 0.00 (0; 5) | <0.001 |
| SF36-Vitality (0–100) | 51.5 (40; 75) | 75 (65; 85) | <0.001 |
| FACIT-Fatigue Scale (0–52) | 38.5 (29; 45.3) | 48.0 (44; 50) | <0.001 |
| FACIT-Emotional Well-being (0–24) | 19 (16; 22) | 21 (19; 23) | <0.001 |
| FACIT-F (0–160) | 115.2 (90; 133.4) | 141 (135; 151.5) | <0.001 |
| SF36-Mental Component Summary (0–100) | 68.1 (40.3; 83.8) | 85.7 (74.3; 94.3) | <0.001 |
Values are depicted as median (first quartile; third quartile) or mean ± standard deviation. Qualitative values are represented in numbers of cases and percentages. EUSTAR, European Scleroderma Trials and Research Group; UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0, University of California, Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract Instrument 2.0; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale; SF36, Short Form 36; FACIT, The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy.