Factors associated with intimacy in female Taiwanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of demographic factors, clinical manifestations and disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with intimate relationships in female patients with SLE. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study based on questionnaires. SETTING: This study was conducted at a regional teaching hospital in southern Taiwan from April to September 2019. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients with SLE recruited from the outpatient rheumatology clinics of the study hospital. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Disease-specific quality of life assessed using the Lupus Quality of Life questionnaire (LupusQoL). RESULTS: A total of 243 female patients with SLE were enrolled. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the independent factors associated with a higher score in the intimate relationships domain of the LupusQoL included the age group under 40 years (p=0.001), education level of college or above (p=0.005), being employed (p<0.001), a better self-reported health status (p=0.012) and a lower SLE-Disease Activity Score (SLE-DAS) score (p=0.010). In addition, the intimate relationships domain was significantly and independently associated physical health (p=0.001), fatigue (p=0.006) and burden to others (p=0.002) domains of the LupusQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians should be vigilant regarding the intimate relationships aspect of the health-related quality of life in female patients with SLE, especially in those who are older, unemployed, have a low educational level, poor self-reported health status, higher SLE-DAS, fatigue, and feeling of burden to others.