To portray life with lupus for women affected by this disease and to identify predictors of fatigue, a common symptom that compromises patients' quality of life.
A sample of 120 female patients (mean age 42.5 yrs) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from 9 rheumatology clinics across Canada were followed prospectively for 15 months. Assessments of psychosocial functioning took place at baseline, and at 3, 9, and 15 months. Physician examinations were conducted at baseline and 15 months.
Significant time effects were found for: global psychological distress (p