Summing up: quality of life in chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

A series of reports is summarized in which measurement of quality of life (QOL) in various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID), the parameters that contribute to QOL, and the interrelationship between inflammatory diseases in specific organ systems and psychosocial domains are explored. Current treatment trials in IMID include QOL measures, particularly clinical trials of biologic therapy. There is increasing evidence that several available therapies benefit QOL. Among the factors that contribute to QOL, fatigue, depression, and stress are common and deserve attention from clinicians managing these patients.