SLICC-Frailty Index is independently associated with impaired physical function, activities of daily living and quality of life measures

Kyriaki Keramiotou; Christos Anagnostou; George Konstantonis; Kalliopi Fragiadaki; Evangelia Kataxaki; Petros P Sfikakis; Maria G Tektonidou

doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keac001

SLICC-Frailty Index is independently associated with impaired physical function, activities of daily living and quality of life measures

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 Aug 30;61(9):3808-3813. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac001.

Authors

Kyriaki Keramiotou^{1

2}, Christos Anagnostou², George Konstantonis¹, Kalliopi Fragiadaki¹, Evangelia Kataxaki², Petros P Sfikakis¹, Maria G Tektonidou¹

Affiliations

¹ First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens.
² Rheumatology Unit, Thriasio General Hospital of Elefsina, Magoula, Greece.

PMID: 35015829
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac001

Abstract

Objective: The SLICC Frailty Index (SLICC-FI) was developed to assess health deficits including disease activity, organ damage, comorbidities and functional status. We examined any relationship between SLICC-FI and objective physical function measures, activities of daily living performance and quality of life in SLE.

Methods: SLICC-FI was estimated using data from patient files and patient-reported questionnaires. Jamar Dynamometer, pinch gauge and Purdue pegboard test measured grip strength, pinch strength and dexterity, respectively. Activities of daily living performance was assessed by the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and HAQ. Quality of life was evaluated by LupusQol questionnaire.

Results: This cross-sectional study included 240 SLE patients (90% female, mean (s.d.) age: 47.63 (13.01), median (IQR) disease duration: 9 (4-16)). Mean (s.d.) SLICC-FI was 0.09 (0.06). Forty-three (17.9%) patients were classified as robust, 105 (43.8%) as relatively less fit, 77 (32.1%) as least fit and 15 (6.2%) as frail. In univariate analysis, SLICC-FI was significantly associated with DASH and HAQ with an inverse association with grip strength, pinch strength and all purdue scores (all P < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between SLICC-FI score and all LupusQoL domain scores (all P < 0.001). All associations remained statistically significant in multivariate regression analysis, after adjustment for age, disease duration, SLEDAI-2K, SLICC, immunosuppressives, corticosteroids and Charlson score.

Conclusion: SLICC-FI is independently associated with poor physical function and activities of daily living performance and impaired quality of life and may help to identify patients in need of additional interventions beyond routine care.

Keywords: SLE; SLICC Frailty Index (SLICC-FI); activities of daily living; health-related quality of life; physical function.

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Frailty*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Quality of Life*
Severity of Illness Index