Objective The clinic of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) potentially leads to social isolation, inactivity, muscle loss and depression. In addition to medical treatment, the current EULAR recommendations, describes the relevance of physical activity and physical exercise as a non-pharmacological management option in patients with SLE.¹ A positive interaction with fatigue and the basic health-promoting effects of exercise are well-established.²

Methods The study will include 40 adult patients with moderate to severe fatigue. The duration of the study is 28 weeks divided into a 12-week monitoring phase, a 4-week interventional rehabilitation phase and a 12-week maintenance training phase.

The parameters collected consisted of laboratory parameters, doctor and patient related questionnaires, physical performance parameters and movement data based on a fitness tracker.

Fatigue was assessed using the FSMC and the Facit-fatigue.

During the rehabilitation phase, patients receive additional individual high-intensity interval training, basic endurance training and strength endurance training based on their cardiopulmonary capacities. The individualized training in the follow-up is carried out on one’s own responsibility.

Results An analysis of the first 15 patients with an age of 48.1±11.7 years and a disease duration of 14.1±7.6 years showed an considerable increase in VO2peak from an average of 19.1 ml/min/kg to 20.7 ml/min/kg (p=0.051) in a preliminary analysis.

Facit-fatigue showed a significant improvement from 21.5±14 to 32.4±13.9 score points (p=0.016). However, surprisingly, the FSMC showed no significance (72.9±22 to 69.6±0.475, p=0.475). It should be noted that for both survey parameters, the scores after the intervention are below the cut-off values of severe fatigue.³

Likewise, the strength values, the activity times, the number of steps and the caloric turnover each showed significant differences (p<0.05). The VO2peak correlates with the FSMC (total. Mot. and cog.) as well as Facit-fatigue (p<0.001).

Conclusion Currently, 30 patients are enrolled in the study. Initial results are promising. Updated data will be presented, at the meeting.

Acknowledgements The study is funded by Glaxo Smith Kline (ISS 213382).

References

1. Parodis I, Girard-Guyonvarc’h C, Arnaud L, et al. EULAR recommendations for the non-pharmacological management of systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023.

2. O’Dwyer T, Durcan L, Wilson F. Exercise and physical activity in systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review with meta-analyses. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2017;47(2):204–15.

3. Montan I, Lowe B, Cella D, et al. General population norms for the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy (FACIT)-fatigue scale. Value Health. 2018;21(11):1313–21.