Ab1542-HPR Severity and Impact of Digestive Involvement on Systemic Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Objectives: To describe the severity and impact of gastrointestinal involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and identify associated factors. Methods: Noncontrolled cross-sectional study of patients with SSc (2013 ACR/EULAR criteria). The main variables were severity of gastrointestinal involvement according to the University of California, Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract 2.0 instrument (UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0) and dysphagia according to the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10). We evaluated reflux, distension, diarrhea, fecal soilage, constipation, emotional well-being, and social functioning, as well as dysphagia. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) and the EuroQol-5D-3L. Multivariate models were constructed to analyze factors associated with gastrointestinal involvement and dysphagia. Results: Of the 75 patients with SSc included, 58.7% had moderate, severe, or very severe reflux, 57.4% had constipation according to UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0, and 49.7% had abdominal distension. Gastrointestinal symptoms interfered significantly with social functioning (42.7%) and emotional well-being (40.0%). Dysphagia (EAT-10 ≥3) was recorded in 52% of patients, poor nutrition in 30.7%, and clear malnutrition requiring a nutritional intervention in 5.3%. Multivariate adjustment revealed an association between severity of gastrointestinal symptoms according to the mRSS (β=0.249; p=0.002) and VAS-EQ-5D-3L (β=–0.302; p=0.001), whereas presence of dysphagia was associated with the mRSS (OR=2.794; p=0.015), VAS-EQ-5D-3L (OR=0.950; p=0.005), and malnutrition (MNA-SF ≤7; OR=3.920; p=0.041). Conclusion: Patients with SSc frequently present severe gastrointestinal symptoms. These are associated with poor quality of life, more severe skin involvement, and malnutrition. REFERENCES: NIL. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.