FRI0236 MIGHT A 12-WEEK AEROBIC EXERCISE INTERVENTION IMPROVE PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES IN WOMEN WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS?
Authors: Blanca Gavilán Carrera, Jose Antonio Vargas-Hitos, Pablo Morillas-de-Laguno, Luis Manuel Saez-Uran, Antonio Rosales-Castillo, José Mario Sabio, Raquel Ríos Fernández, Alberto Soriano Maldonado
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background:</h3> Despite the relevant advance in treatment options and survival rates in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), patient's quality of life (QOL) and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs) do not seem to improve accordingly [1]. PROs provide valuable information about the patient's perceptions across a variety of domains that should be considered in a successful management of this condition [2]. Exercise seems to be a safe way to improve cardiorespiratory fitness [3], and could have also a positive influence on PROs in SLE. <h3>Objectives:</h3> To evaluate the effects of 12-week aerobic exercise intervention on PROs (QOL, depression, stress, and fatigue) in women with SLE. <h3>Methods:</h3> These are secondary outcomes of a non-randomized clinical trial [NCT03107442]. A total of 58 participants with SLE were assigned to exercise group (<i>n</i>=26) or control group (<i>n</i>=32). The exercise intervention followed the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines, and consisted of 12-week progressive aerobic exercise on a treadmill (2 sessions/week) between 40%-75% of the individual's heart rate reserve [3]. Attendance of ≥75% was set for inclusion in the analyses. The control group received verbal information about a healthy lifestyle. At baseline, and at week 12, PROs were assessed including the physical and mental summary scores of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), depression (Beck Depression Inventory; BDI-II), perceived stress (visual analogue scale) and fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory; MFI-20). A total of 49 women with SLE (age: 44.5±14.2 years) completed all the assessments (exercise=21; control=28) and were included in the per-protocol (primary) analyses. The exercise and control group were comparable in age, disease duration and SLE activity, sociodemographic characteristics, and BMI at baseline, although there were differences in BDI-II scores. Baseline values and BDI-II values were used as covariates in the analyses. <h3>Results:</h3> In comparison to the control group, the exercise group showed a significant reduction in general fatigue (mean difference -2.11 units; 95% CI -4.18 to -0.04; <i>P</i>=0.046) and physical fatigue (mean difference -3.90 units; 95% CI -6.3 to -1.5; <i>P</i>= 0.002) following the intervention. There were no between-group differences in the changes from baseline to week 12 either in physical (<i>P</i>=0.828) or mental (<i>P</i>=0.767) QOL, depression (<i>P</i>=0.498), perceived stress (<i>P</i>=0.247) or other fatigue dimensions (mental, reduced motivation, reduced activity, all <i>P</i>&gt;0.05). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> The results of this study suggest that 12 weeks of progressive aerobic exercise might improve relevant dimensions of fatigue in women with SLE, despite absence of effects on QOL, depression or perceived stress. <h3>References:</h3> [1] Mcelhone K, Abbott J, Teh L-S. A review of health related quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus. 2006;15: 633–643. [2] Mahieu M, Yount S, Ramsey-Goldman R. Patient-reported outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheum Dis Clin. Elsevier; 2016;42: 253–263. [3] Soriano-maldonado A, Morillas-de-laguno P, Sabio M. Effects of 12-week Aerobic Exercise on Arterial Stiffness, Inflammation, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Women with Systemic LUPUS Erythematosus: Non-Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Med. 2018; 1–17. <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> None declared