Background To evaluate treatment satisfaction in the patients with chronic rheumatic diseases.

Methods This cross-sectional study was performed from September 2021 through December 2021 using treatment satisfaction questionnaire for medication (TSQM).

Results Two hundred fifteen patients (RA patients n=114, SLE patients n=101) were enrolled in this study. 82.3% were female (73.7% of RA, 92.1% of SLE, p < 0.001). The mean of age was 52.8 years (57.8 years vs. 47.2 years, p < 0.001), of disease duration was 9.1 years (6.8 years vs. 11.8 years, p < 0.001), of duration of education was 11.5 years (11.0 years vs. 12.0, p=0.010). Mean of DAS28-ESR was 2.0, of DAS28-CRP was 1.8, of SLEDAI was 1.8, and of EQ5D- VAS was 68.6. Mean of TSQM summary scores; 1) treatment effectiveness 64.5 (66.5 vs. 62.3, p=0.028), side effects 97.6 (97.9 vs. 97.3, p=0.726), convenience of administration 67.7 (66.9 vs. 68.7, p=0.268), and global satisfaction 65.2 (66.2 vs. 63.9, p=0.307). There were good correlations between TSQM and demographic data in age at symptom onset, duration of education, global assessment of patient or physician, ESR, CRP, DAS28-ESR/CRP, and SLEDAI. The score 80 or more of global satisfaction was defined as ‘satisfied’. 80 or more group (n=36, 16.7%) showed longer duration of education, higher income, lower global assessment of patients or physician, and higher EQ5D-VAS (all, p< 0.05) compared to 80 or less group. However, SLE patients with 80 or more score showed just a trend in the household income per month (p=0.054). Among EQ-5D questionnaires, the level of pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression were significantly difference between 80 or more and less group.

Conclusions Factors associated with global satisfaction ‘satisfied’ were duration of education, household income per month, pain/discomfort, or anxiety/depression in this study. Although most of them were stable disease status, patients with SLE showed lower treatment satisfaction than RA patients.