Healthy Lifestyle Intervention in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Living Well With Lupus Study

Healthy Lifestyle Intervention in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Living Well With Lupus Study

Healthy Lifestyle Intervention in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus With High Cardiovascular Risk: The Living Well With Lupus Study

This research program aims to investigate the clinical, physiological, metabolic and molecular effects of lifestyle change in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with high cardiovascular risk. This 6-month parallel-group randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of a newly developed lifestyle change intervention - through recommendations for structured and unstructured physical activity and healthy eating - on increasing physical activity level and improving eating habits. Potential effects of the intervention on cardiovascular and cardiometabolic risk factors, health-related quality of life, symptoms of anxiety and depression, sleep quality and immune function will be investigated. Gold-standard techniques and a variety of analyses will be performed to access the potential mechanisms involved in response to this intervention.

The researcher responsible for performing the blood flow measurement will be blinded to the allocation of groups

A newly developed intervention focused on promoting lifestyle change through recommendations for structured and unstructured physical activity and healthy eating.

The lifestyle change intervention will involve two constructs: increasing the level of physical activity and improving eating habits, each with its own specific domains and goals. It will be based on a structured program of physical exercises and selection of individualized goals in the domains of transportation, leisure and work to reduce sedentary behavior with the aim of increasing the level of physical activity, as well as establishing changes in dietary aspects, involving consumption domains, structure, behavior and eating attitude using nutritional counseling techniques.

assessed by measures of five standard variables (HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, waist circumference and blood pressure - average of systolic and diastolic blood pressures). Z-score = [(50 - HDL cholesterol)/sd + (triglycerides - 150)/ sd] + [(fasting blood glucose - 100)/ sd] + [(waist circumference - 88)/ sd] + [(blood pressure - 115)/ sd]. Higher score values represent higher risk. *sd: standard deviation. Higher Z-score represent higher risk.

assessed by measuring tape positioned at the midpoint between the last floating vertebra and the iliac crest.

The activity of the disease, which will be impaired by safety, will be assessed by the presence of anti-dsDNA, using the ELISA technique and confirmation by indirect immunofluorescence in Crithidia luciliae and assessed by the questionnaire Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2000). Total score ranges from 0 to 105. Higher scores represent higher disease activity.

assessed by Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ American College of Rheumatology - Damage Index. Total score range from 0 (no damage) to 46 (maximum damage).

assessed by the Visual Analogic Scale (0 and 10 scale). Higher values represent worst global health status.

assessed by focus group. A semi-structured script composed of open questions about intervention positive and negative points, barriers for physical activity practice and changes in food consumption, perceptions of health improvement or worsening (physical and psychological aspects), well-being, motivation to maintain the changes made, perspectives regarding health and disease.

Quality of Life assesment assessed by the Short-Form Health Survey-36 (SF36) [followed by its scale information in the Description]

Quality of Life assessed by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Quality of Life Questionnaire ( SLEQOL) [followed by its scale information in the Description]

evaluates the maximum number of stand-ups that a subject could perform from a standard height (i.e., 45 cm) armless chair within 30 s

evaluates the time required for the subject to rise from a standard arm chair, walk towards a line drawn on the floor three meters away, turn, return, and sit back down again

assessed by Fatigue Scale (FACIT). The final score can vary from 0 to 52, where higher final score representing higher level of fatigue.

assessed by sub-scale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), called HADS-A. Total score ranges from 0 to 21. Where higher final score representing higher level.

assessed by sub-scale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), called HADS-D. Total score ranges from 0 to 21. Where higher final score representing higher level.

Data from actigraph will come as these measures: Total Sleep Time (hours/day), Sleep Efficiency (%), Sleep Onset Latency (min), and Wake After Sleep Onset (min), and this data will be considered to determine the sleep quality.

Inclusion Criteria: Women between 18 and 65 years old diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus one or more high cardiovascular risk factors SLEDAI score ≤ 4 Treatment with prednisone at a dosage <10 mg/d and treatment with hydroxychloroquine in a stable dose Exclusion Criteria: another rheumatic diseases (except for secondary Sjogren's syndrome) participation in structured exercise training programs and/or prescriptive diets illiterate or with diagnosed cognitive disorders or musculoskeletal impairments that potentially compromise understanding and participation in the intervention