Article Text
PDF
Abstract
Objective Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that impacts health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Exercise is a potential determinant of HRQoL. We characterize HRQoL and exercise habits of SLE patients from two centres in Portugal.
Methods HRQoL was evaluated through the SLE-specific LupusQoL-PT (higher is better). Exercise habits were standardized using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire translated into Portuguese. 4 patients recruited in flare were reassessed at 1 year, in remission; these scores were considered independently (total 24 LupusQoL-PT, 22 IPAQ responses).
Results Twenty SLE patients (18 female; median age 38,3 years, median disease duration 12,6 years) were recruited. Median SLEDAI score was 6,0 (IQR 4,7–10), with 55% patients recruited in flare and 15% had at least some organ damage (SDI ≥ 1). Most (70%) took hydroxychloroquine (table 1). Median LupusQoL-PT scores were lowest for fatigue (62,5) and highest for intimate relationship domains (93,8) (table 2). Lower disease activity (SLEDAI <=6) significantly associated with improved burden to others and body image domain scoring (table 2). Overall, participants spent less than an hour weekly at either strenuous or moderate physical activity. Participants that exercised at least one hour/week, regardless of intensity, tended to score higher on all HRQoL domains (table 2). Pain and Emotional domain HRQoL improved with at least one hour/week of moderate exercise (66 vs 91,7, p=0,049 and 70,8 vs 83,3, p=0,013, respectively). Walking >1h/week improved emotional (83,3 vs 54,2, p=0,048) and tended to improve burden to others scoring (table 2). Sitting time was generally high (mean 40,9± 22,5 hours/week) and not associated with any HRQoL domain.
Conclusion Fatigue is the lowest scoring domain in this cohort. Higher disease activity impacts burden to others and body image HRQoL. Portuguese SLE patients have very low rates of physical activity. Patients with greater exercise habits score higher on all LupusQoL domains. Even one hour per week of activity is associated with improvement in HRQoL. This underscores the importance of addressing physical activity in SLE management and research.
Acknowledgements Lindora Pires, Director, Internal Medicine Department, CHTS. Fátima Farinha, Director, UIC, CHUdSA. Fundação para Ciência e Tecnologia. UIDB/00215/2020; UIDP/00215/2020
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient demographic and clinical characteristics at time of recruitment
LupusQoL-PT domain scores – overall and across activity category
This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ .