Gender Differences in Systemic Sclerosis
Author Information
Author(s): Nguyen Christelle, Bérezné Alice, Baubet Thierry, Mestre-Stanislas Caroline, Rannou François, Papelard Agathe, Morell-Dubois Sandrine, Revel Michel, Guillevin Loïc, Poiraudeau Serge, Mouthon Luc
Primary Institution: Université Paris Descartes, Faculté de Médecine
Hypothesis
To assess the association of gender with clinical expression, health-related quality of life, disability, and self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with systemic sclerosis.
Conclusion
In SSc patients, male gender tends to be associated with diffuse disease and female gender with calcinosis and self-reported symptoms of anxiety.
Supporting Evidence
- Males had a higher body mass index (BMI) than females.
- Diffuse cutaneous SSc was more frequent in males.
- Females reported more symptoms of anxiety than males.
- No significant differences in health-related quality of life were found between genders.
Takeaway
This study looked at how being male or female affects people with a disease called systemic sclerosis. It found that men often have more severe disease, while women report more anxiety.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey of 381 patients with systemic sclerosis was conducted, assessing clinical symptoms, disability, health-related quality of life, and self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Potential Biases
Patients were recruited from a patient association or tertiary care units, which may not reflect the broader population.
Limitations
The sample of males was small, and the study may not be representative of the entire French SSc population.
Participant Demographics
381 patients (62 males, 319 females) with a mean age of 55.9 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.006 for anxiety symptoms in females vs males
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.01–1.24 for BMI association with gender
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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