Disease Activity in Turkish Patients with Behçet's Disease: Association with Fatigue, Psychological Status and Quality of Life

Objective:We aimed to determine disease activity in Behcet's patients and to assess its association with quality of life, pain, fatigue, and functional and psychological status. Material and Methods: Sixty seven Behcet?s patients (39 males, 28 females) were included. Disease activity were determined by using Behcet Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF). Quality of life was assessed by Short Form-36 (SF36), psychological status by Beck Depression Scale (BDS), and fatigue by Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Results: All BDCAF subscores were found to be positively correlated with BDS scores (p<0.05). All BDCAF subscores except oral ulcers were correlated with FSS scores (p<0.05). Disease activity subgroups of BDCAF were negatively correlated with both physical and mental domains of SF36 (p<0.05). Oral ulcer was found to be negatively correlated with only bodily pain subgroup of SF36 (r=-0.26) (p<0.05). Genital ulcer and skin lesions were negatively correlated with only physical function and physical role subgroups of SF36 (p<0.05). Eye and central nervous system involvement were found as negatively correlated with all SF36 subgroups except emotional role (p<0.05). Conclusion: Treatment approaches focusing on fatigue, eye and joint involvement in Behçet's patients may improve quality of life in terms of physical, social and emotional functioning.