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Association Between Nutritional Status, Body Composition, and Disease Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An
José Luis Sánchez-Reynoso1, Sol Ramírez-Ochoa1, Berenice Vicente-Hernández1
1Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44280, Jalisco, Mexico.
Nutritional status and muscle strength showed limited independent links to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) disease activity. However, the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and SARC-F score remained associated with disease activity markers after adjustments.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Clinical Nutrition
- Immunology
Background:
- Nutritional status, body composition, and muscle function are critical in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
- The interplay between comprehensive nutritional assessment and SLE disease activity requires further elucidation.
- Understanding these relationships can inform patient management and improve outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between various nutritional indices, body composition, muscle strength, and disease activity in hospitalized SLE patients.
- To evaluate the independent predictive value of nutritional status on SLE disease activity.
- To explore correlations between muscle function (SARC-F) and disease activity markers.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 67 hospitalized SLE patients.
- Assessment of nutritional status using BMI, PNI, CONUT, and NRI.
- Evaluation of muscle strength via the SARC-F scale.
- Measurement of disease activity using SLEDAI-2K, with statistical analysis including multivariable regression and FDR-corrected correlations.
Main Results:
- Nutritional indices (BMI, PNI, CONUT, NRI) were not independently associated with SLEDAI-2K in multivariable models.
- After FDR correction, PNI and CONUT showed significant correlations with lymphocyte count and C3 levels.
- The SARC-F score demonstrated a significant positive correlation with SLEDAI-2K (qFDR = 0.040).
Conclusions:
- Nutritional indices have limited independent association with SLE disease activity after adjusting for confounders.
- PNI and CONUT correlations with immunological markers may reflect inflammation rather than solely nutritional status.
- Muscle strength, assessed by SARC-F, remains significantly associated with SLE disease activity (SLEDAI-2K).
