Association of Disease Activity and Socioeconomic Factors With Physical Activity in Patients With Systemic Lupus...

Physical activity can reduce cardiovascular disease and depression risk and improve quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To facilitate physical activity and achieve health benefits in patients with SLE, it is critical to understand potential barriers to physical activity, including socioeconomic, social, demographic, quality-of-life, or clinical factors.

We conducted cross-sectional analyses of data from a large, diverse cohort of patients with SLE. All completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, recalling the past seven days of vigorous physical activity, moderate activity, or walking. Data included financial insecurity, Everyday Discrimination Scale, education, demographics, lupus-specific disease activity, immunosuppressive medication, Census Block Area Deprivation Index, and patient-reported pain, fatigue, and cognitive function. Multivariable models included logistic regression for dichotomous outcome of "any" moderate/vigorous physical activity and quasi-Poisson model for total combined days of moderate and vigorous activity.

Of the 271 participants, 170 (63%) reported any moderate or vigorous activity in the past 7 days (mean = 2.6 days of moderate/vigorous activity). Only 4% reported zero days of physical activity. Logistic regression analysis indicated that active disease was associated with 47% lower odds of engaging in any moderate/vigorous physical activity (P = 0.04) and with a 35% reduction in the mean number of days of moderate to vigorous physical activity (P = 0.04). In contrast, individual- and area-level socioeconomic factors and patient-reported outcomes were not associated with physical activity.

Moderate/vigorous physical activity was negatively associated only with disease activity. The current study reinforces the need primarily to control SLE disease activity to promote patients' ability to be physically active, which may improve symptoms.