Systemic sclerosis markedly impairs health-related quality of life: a single-centre tertiary cohort study with literature-based comparison to leading causes of global disease burden

Background

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune condition that significantly impacts the physical and mental health of affected individuals, disrupting their daily life and overall well-being. However, its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been thoroughly compared to other chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and stroke, the impact of which is clearly established. We explored how SSc influences HRQoL and compared its effect to that of six chronic diseases, considered the global leading causes of disease burden in high-income countries, and three common rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.