Effects of 12-week Aerobic Exercise on Arterial Stiffness, Inflammation, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Women with Systemic LUPUS Erythematosus: Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

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 × 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.

Heart Rate Variability in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Association with Health-Related Parameters and Effects of Aerobic Exercise

“…This study included data of 58 women with SLE from a non-randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a 12-week aerobic exercise program on arterial stiffness, inflammation, and cardiorespiratory fitness [ 19 ]. Participants were recruited from the Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit of the “Virgen de las Nieves” and “San Cecilio” University Hospitals (Granada, Spain).…”

“…Participants were recruited from the Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit of the “Virgen de las Nieves” and “San Cecilio” University Hospitals (Granada, Spain). A comprehensive description of the inclusion and exclusion criteria can be found elsewhere [ 19 ]. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Granada (ref.…”

“…Exercise is a potential intervention that significantly increases cardiorespiratory fitness [ 18 , 19 ], improves cardiovascular function and PROs (i.e., fatigue, depression, etc.) [ 20 ] in patients with SLE.…”

Association of physical fitness components and health-related quality of life in women with systemic lupus erythematosus with mild disease activity

“…The determinants of HRQoL in SLE are complex but may include factors related to disease and treatment, health care provision [1], or psychological variables [9]. In addition to medical therapy, non-pharmacological therapies, such as exercise, seems to be an efficient and safe alternative to improve physical fitness [10], symptomatology and HRQoL of patients with SLE [11,12]. Aerobic training [13–18], as well as strength and flexibility training [13,18,19] have shown a variable efficacy in improving diverse dimensions of HRQoL in SLE.…”

“…However, the scope of previous research is generally limited to physical dimensions ignoring the also relevant social and mental spheres of HRQoL [31,32]. As patient-reported outcomes are considered key variables in the assessment and management of patients with SLE[33], and fitness might be enhanced through exercise interventions [10], a more comprehensive characterization of the association of the different dimensions of HRQoL with physical fitness might inform the design of randomized trials and the development of therapeutic exercise protocols for this population.…”