Comparison of pulmonary function, respiratory symptoms, functional level, and health-related quality of life in patients with systemic sclerosis according to smoking status.

Smoking may increase respiratory symptoms and vascular complications and decrease the functional level and HRQoL in patients with SSc. To maintain functional independence in patients with SSc, awareness of the harms of smoking should be increased and smoking cessation should be encouraged, along with physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs including exercise and physical activity recommendations.