J Clin Med Res

Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, ISSN 1918-3003 print, 1918-3011 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://jocmr.elmerjournals.com

Original Article

olume 17, Number 5, May 2025, pages 256-261

Kinesiophobia in Systemic Sclerosis: Relationship With Functional Status, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Depression, and Other Clinical Parameters

**Table 1.** Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of the Patients With SSc and Healthy Controls
Characteristics	SSc patients (n = 40)	Controls (n = 60)	P
Data are expressed as mean ± SD or n (%). *P < 0.05. BMI: body mass index; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire; n: number of cases; SD: standard deviation; SSc: systemic sclerosis; VAS: visual analog scale.
Age (years)	50.2 ± 10.1	48.9 ± 6.6	0.493
Gender: female	37 (92.5%)	54 (90%)	0.738
Education level: < High school	28 (70%)	38 (63%)	0.243
Marital status: married	35 (87%)	45 (75%)	0.247
BMI	24.7 ± 4.7	24.0 ± 4.4	0.503
Kinesiophobia	48.4 ± 10.4	33.4 ± 9.6	< 0.001*
Smoking status	10/30	12/48	0.554
BDI score	20.5 ± 9.7	13.4 ± 6.8	< 0.001*
Depressive symptoms	23 (57.5%)	14 (23%)	< 0.001*
SSc-HAQ	1.5 ± 4.5
Disease duration (years)	7.82 ± 5.77
Fatigue VAS (cm)	64.7 ± 18.7
Pain VAS (cm)	50.9 ± 22.5
Modified Rodnan skin score	18.2 ± 9.7
Disease activity score	3.25 ± 2.19
Tender joint count	2.8 ± 3.46
Raynaud’s phenomenon	35 (87.5%)
Digital ulcer	27 (67.5%)
Dyspnea	27 (67.5%)
Pulmonary fibrosis	24 (60%)
Gastroesophageal reflux	23 (57.5%)
Dysphagia	25 (62.5%)
ESR	16.7 ± 11.6

Table 1. Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of the Patients With SSc and Healthy Controls

Characteristics

SSc patients (n = 40)

Controls (n = 60)

Data are expressed as mean ± SD or n (%). *P < 0.05. BMI: body mass index; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire; n: number of cases; SD: standard deviation; SSc: systemic sclerosis; VAS: visual analog scale.

Age (years)

50.2 ± 10.1

48.9 ± 6.6

0.493

Gender: female

37 (92.5%)

54 (90%)

0.738

Education level: < High school

28 (70%)

38 (63%)

0.243

Marital status: married

35 (87%)

45 (75%)

0.247

BMI

24.7 ± 4.7

24.0 ± 4.4

0.503

Kinesiophobia

48.4 ± 10.4

33.4 ± 9.6

< 0.001*

Smoking status

10/30

12/48

0.554

BDI score

20.5 ± 9.7

13.4 ± 6.8

< 0.001*

Depressive symptoms

23 (57.5%)

14 (23%)

< 0.001*

SSc-HAQ

1.5 ± 4.5

Disease duration (years)

7.82 ± 5.77

Fatigue VAS (cm)

64.7 ± 18.7

Pain VAS (cm)

50.9 ± 22.5

Modified Rodnan skin score

18.2 ± 9.7

Disease activity score

3.25 ± 2.19

Tender joint count

2.8 ± 3.46

Raynaud’s phenomenon

35 (87.5%)

Digital ulcer

27 (67.5%)

Dyspnea

27 (67.5%)

Pulmonary fibrosis

24 (60%)

Gastroesophageal reflux

23 (57.5%)

Dysphagia

25 (62.5%)

ESR

16.7 ± 11.6

**Table 2.** Correlation Between the Kinesiophobia Total Scores With the Clinical, Laboratory, Functional, and Psychological Characteristics in Patients With SSc
Characteristics	r	P
P < 0.05, *P < 0.01. ANA: antinuclear antibody; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; BMI: body mass index; CRP: C-reactive protein; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire; n: number of cases; SD: standard deviation; SSc: systemic sclerosis; VAS: visual analog scale.
Age (years)	0.377	0.016
BMI	0.202	0.212
Disease duration (years)	0.402*	0.010
Modified Rodnan skin score	0.134	0.411
Pain VAS (cm)	0.434**	0.005
Fatigue VAS (cm)	0.389*	0.018
Gut disease	0.169	0.296
Pulmonary fibrosis	0.345*	0.029
Raynaud’s phenomenon	0.098	0.549
Digital ulcer	0.045	0.782
Disease activity	0.396*	0.012
SSc-HAQ	0.313*	0.045
BDI	0.553**	< 0.001
ANA	0.297	0.063
CRP	0.116	0.474
ESR	0.070	0.666
Anti-SCL70	0.125	0.436
Anticentromere	0.246	0.082

Table 2. Correlation Between the Kinesiophobia Total Scores With the Clinical, Laboratory, Functional, and Psychological Characteristics in Patients With SSc

Characteristics

*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. ANA: antinuclear antibody; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; BMI: body mass index; CRP: C-reactive protein; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire; n: number of cases; SD: standard deviation; SSc: systemic sclerosis; VAS: visual analog scale.

Age (years)

0.377

0.016

BMI

0.202

0.212

Disease duration (years)

0.402*

0.010

Modified Rodnan skin score

0.134

0.411

Pain VAS (cm)

0.434**

0.005

Fatigue VAS (cm)

0.389*

0.018

Gut disease

0.169

0.296

Pulmonary fibrosis

0.345*

0.029

Raynaud’s phenomenon

0.098

0.549

Digital ulcer

0.045

0.782

Disease activity

0.396*

0.012

SSc-HAQ

0.313*

0.045

BDI

0.553**

< 0.001

ANA

0.297

0.063

CRP

0.116

0.474

ESR

0.070

0.666

Anti-SCL70

0.125

0.436

Anticentromere

0.246

0.082