10 research outputs found
Physical Fitness and Body Composition in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Background and objectives: Higher physical fitness is associated with a more favorable
weight and body composition in the general population, although this association has not been
studied in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of the present study was to
examine the association of different components of physical fitness with body composition in
women with SLE with mild disease activity. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study
included 77 women with SLE (43.2 ± 13.8 years old) and clinical stability during the previous 6
months. Body composition (including body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), waist
circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio) was assessed using a stadiometer, an
anthropometric tape, and a bioimpedance device. Physical fitness included cardiorespiratory fitness
(Siconolfi step test and 6 min walk test), muscular strength (handgrip strength test as upper body
measure and 30 s chair stand as lower body measure), and flexibility (back-scratch test). Participants
with a fitness level equal or above the median of the study sample were categorized as “fit” and
those below the median were categorized as “unfit”. Linear regression assessed the association of
physical fitness with body composition parameters. Results: Cardiorespiratory fitness and upper
body muscular strength were negatively associated with BMI, FMI, waist circumference, and waistto-
height ratio (all, p < 0.05). Lower body muscular strength and flexibility were negatively related
to FMI, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-hip ratio (all, p < 0.05). These
relationships were still significant after controlling for age, disease duration, accrual damage, and
SLE activity. Overall, fit patients presented significantly lower values in all body composition
parameters compared to unfit patients (all, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The main findings of the present
study suggest that physical fitness is inversely associated with body composition in women with SLE.
Given the cross-sectional nature of this study, future clinical trials should study the causal pathways
underlying these relationships.This work was supported by ConsejerĂa de Salud, Junta de AndalucĂa (grant number: PI-0525-2016)
and by the Ilustre Colegio Oficial de MĂ©dicos de Granada (Premios de InvestigaciĂłn 2017). BGC was supported
by the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU15/00002)
Effects of 12-week Aerobic Exercise on Arterial Stiffness, Inflammation, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Women with Systemic LUPUS Erythematosus: Non-Randomized Controlled Trial
This study assessed the effect of 12-week aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness (primary
outcome), inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiorespiratory fitness (secondary outcomes) in
women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In a non-randomized clinical trial, 58 women with
SLE were assigned to either aerobic exercise (n = 26) or usual care (n = 32). The intervention comprised
12 weeks of aerobic exercise (2 sessions X 75 min/week) between 40–75% of the individual’s heart
rate reserve. At baseline and at week 12, arterial stiffness was assessed through pulse wave velocity
(PWV), inflammatory (i.e., high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], tumor necrosis factor alpha
[TFN- α], and inteleukin 6 [IL-6]) and oxidative stress (i.e., myeloperoxidase [MPO]) markers were
obtained from blood samples, and cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed (Bruce test). There were no
between-group differences in the changes in arterial stiffness (median PWV difference -0.034, 95% CI
-0.42 to 0.36 m/s; p = 0.860) or hsCRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and MPO (all p > 0.05) at week 12. In comparison
to the control group, the exercise group significantly increased cardiorespiratory fitness (median
difference 2.26 minutes, 95% CI 0.98 to 3.55; p = 0.001). These results suggest that 12 weeks of
progressive treadmill aerobic exercise increases cardiorespiratory fitness without exacerbating arterial
stiffness, inflammation, or oxidative stress in women with SLE.This work was supported by FundaciĂłn para la InvestigaciĂłn Biosanitaria de AndalucĂa Oriental (grant
number: PI-0525-2016) and the Ilustre Colegio Oficial de MĂ©dicos de Granada (Premios de InvestigaciĂłn 2017).
BG-C was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU15/00002)
Association of physical fitness components and health-related quality of life in women with systemic lupus erythematosus with mild disease activity
To study the association of different components of physical fitness [flexibility, muscle
strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF)] and a clustered fitness score with healthrelated
quality of life (HRQoL) in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to
analyze whether participants with high fitness level have better HRQoL. This cross-sectional study included 70 women with SLE (aged 42.5; SD 13.9 years). The
back-scratch test assessed flexibility, the 30-sec chair stand and handgrip strength tests
assessed muscle strength, and the 6-min walk test (n = 49) assessed CRF. HRQoL was
assessed through the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Our study suggests that muscle strength and CRF are positively associated with HRQoL,
while flexibility showed contradictory results. These findings highlight the importance of
maintaining adequate fitness levels in women with SLE.This work was supported by the
ConsejerĂa de Salud, Junta de AndalucĂa (grant
number: PI-0525-2016) and the Ilustre Colegio
Oficial de MĂ©dicos de Granada (Premios de
InvestigaciĂłn 2017). BG-C was supported by the
Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU15/00002)
Association of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time with arterial stiffness in women with systemic lupus erythematosus with mild disease activity
Objectives
To examine the association of objectively measured physical activity (PA) intensity
levels and sedentary time with arterial stiffness in women with systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE) with mild disease activity and to analyze whether participants meeting the
international PA guidelines have lower arterial stiffness than those not meeting the PA
guidelines.
Methods
The study comprised 47 women with SLE (average age 41.2 [standard deviation 13.9])
years, with clinical and treatment stability during the 6 months prior to the study. PA intensity
levels and sedentary time were objectively measured with triaxial accelerometry. Arterial
stiffness was assessed through pulse wave velocity, evaluated by Mobil-O-Graph® 24h
pulse wave analysis monitor.
Results
The average time in moderate to vigorous PA in bouts of 10 consecutive minutes was
135.1±151.8 minutes per week. There was no association of PA intensity levels and sedentary
time with arterial stiffness, either in crude analyses or after adjusting for potential confounders. Participants who met the international PA guidelines did not show lower pulse
wave velocity than those not meeting them (b = -0.169; 95% CI: -0.480 to 0.143; P = 0.280).
Conclusions
Our results suggest that PA intensity levels and sedentary time are not associated with arterial
stiffness in patients with SLE. Further analyses revealed that patients with SLE meeting
international PA guidelines did not present lower arterial stiffness than those not meeting
the PA guidelines. Future prospective research is needed to better understand the association
of PA and sedentary time with arterial stiffness in patients with SLE.This work was supported by FundaciĂłn
para la InvestigaciĂłn Biosanitaria de Andalucia
Oriental, Grant numbers: PI-0525-2016 (http://
www.fibao.es/; http://www.ibsgranada.es/) to
JAVH. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or
preparation of the manuscript
The flowchart of the selection of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with mild disease activity (<i>n = 47</i>).
<p>The flowchart of the selection of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with mild disease activity (<i>n = 47</i>).</p
Linear regression models examining the association of physical activity intensity levels and sedentary time with pulse wave velocity in women with systemic lupus erythematosus <i>(n = 47)</i>.
<p>Linear regression models examining the association of physical activity intensity levels and sedentary time with pulse wave velocity in women with systemic lupus erythematosus <i>(n = 47)</i>.</p
Physical activity intensity levels and sedentary time in women with systemic lupus erythematosus <i>(n = 47)</i>.
<p>Physical activity intensity levels and sedentary time in women with systemic lupus erythematosus <i>(n = 47)</i>.</p
Average PWV (95% confidence interval) in women with SLE meeting and not meeting the PA guidelines.
<p>Average PWV (95% confidence interval) in women with SLE meeting and not meeting the PA guidelines.</p
Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in women with systemic lupus erythematosus <i>(n = 47)</i>.
<p>Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in women with systemic lupus erythematosus <i>(n = 47)</i>.</p
Cardiovascular risk factors in women with systemic lupus erythematosus <i>(n = 47)</i>.
<p>Cardiovascular risk factors in women with systemic lupus erythematosus <i>(n = 47)</i>.</p