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.

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