Health-related quality of life and employment among persons with systemic lupus erythematosus.

This article assesses the effect of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on the shealth-related quality of life (HRQOL) and employment of persons with this condition. Far more than impaired health status can affect an individual's quality of life. The term "health-related quality of life" is used to connote the decrement in an individual's quality of life specifically attributable to a decrease in health status. The article presents evidence on employment because this plays a crucial role in determining the quality of life of most Americans of normal working age. However, evidence is also presented with respect to other domains of activity, because most people work to live but not many live to work.