Recent publications
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease (AD). Genetic predisposition and immune dysfunction are involved in the pathogenesis of PD. Notably, peripheral inflammatory disorders and neuroinflammation are associated with PD neuropathology. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with inflammatory disorders due to hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Particularly, insulin resistance (IR) in T2DM promotes the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Thus, T2DM-induced inflammatory disorders predispose to the development and progression of PD, and their targeting may reduce PD risk in T2DM. Therefore, this narrative review aims to find the potential link between T2DM and PD by investigating the role of inflammatory signalling pathways, mainly the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and the nod-like receptor pyrin 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. NF-κB is implicated in the pathogenesis of T2DM, and activation of NF-κB with induction of neuronal apoptosis was also confirmed in PD patients. Systemic activation of NLRP3 inflammasome promotes the accumulation of α-synuclein and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the SN. Increasing α-synuclein in PD patients enhances NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the release of interleukin (IL)-1β followed by the development of systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation. In conclusion, activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome axis in T2DM patients could be the causal pathway in the development of PD. The inflammatory mechanisms triggered by activated NLRP3 inflammasome lead to pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and the development of T2DM. Therefore, attenuation of inflammatory changes by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome axis in the early T2DM may reduce future PD risk.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to summarize and evaluate the empirical evidence on the measurement properties of diaper dermatitis (DD) measurement instruments in children.
Design:
Systematic review.
Methods:
MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE were systematically searched until 14 June 2021. Citation searching was conducted in Scopus. The risk of bias, the reported measurement properties and the quality of evidence were evaluated using the COSMIN framework. The reporting follows the PRISMA 2020 statement.
Results:
We identified 1200 records in the databases and 108 records during citation searching and included four studies describing three measurement instruments for DD in children and their measurement properties. We considered the content validity inconsistent for all three instruments. The study authors reported internal consistency, reliability and construct validity for one instrument. We rated the quality of evidence from very low to moderate.
Prematurity is a particular challenge for parents that severely affects the interaction and relationship dynamics between children and their caregivers. Previous studies mostly focused on the infancy of preterms but did not examine the development process. This study highlights whether preterm children and their main caregivers still differ in their emotional availability (EA) at preschool age. Caregiver-child interactions during the transition period of school entry were measured with the Emotional Availability Scales (EAS). N = 25 preterm (25–33 weeks of gestation) and n = 23 term children at an age of 5 years and their main caregivers were observed while playing a construction game that was eliciting either a low or moderate stress level. Caregivers of preterm children showed higher intrusiveness scores compared to caregivers of term dyads. Thus, it seems that parents of preterm children behave intrusively independently of their children's cognitive performance.
Background:
Pulsed field ablation is a novel nonthermal cardiac ablation modality using ultra-rapid electrical pulses to cause cell death by a mechanism of irreversible electroporation. Unlike the traditional ablation energy sources, pulsed field ablation has demonstrated significant preferentiality to myocardial tissue ablation, and thus avoids certain thermally mediated complications. However, its safety and effectiveness remain unknown in usual clinical care.
Methods:
MANIFEST-PF (Multi-National Survey on the Methods, Efficacy, and Safety on the Post-Approval Clinical Use of Pulsed Field Ablation) is a retrospective, multinational, patient-level registry wherein patients at each center were prospectively included in their respective center registries. The registry included all patients undergoing postapproval treatment with a multielectrode 5-spline pulsed field ablation catheter to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) between March 1, 2021, and May 30, 2022. The primary effectiveness outcome was freedom from clinical documented atrial arrhythmia (AF/atrial flutter/atrial tachycardia) of ≥30 seconds on the basis of electrocardiographic data after a 3-month blanking period (on or off antiarrhythmic drugs). Safety outcomes included the composite of acute (<7 days postprocedure) and latent (>7 days) major adverse events.
Results:
At 24 European centers (77 operators) pulsed field ablation was performed in 1568 patients with AF: age 64.5±11.5 years, female 35%, paroxysmal/persistent AF 65%/32%, CHA2DS2-VASc 2.2±1.6, median left ventricular ejection fraction 60%, and left atrial diameter 42 mm. Pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in 99.2% of patients. After a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 367 (289-421) days, the 1-year Kaplan-Meier estimate for freedom from atrial arrhythmia was 78.1% (95% CI, 76.0%-80.0%); clinical effectiveness was more common in patients with paroxysmal AF versus persistent AF (81.6% versus 71.5%; P=0.001). Acute major adverse events occurred in 1.9% of patients.
Conclusions:
In this large observational registry of the postapproval clinical use of pulsed field technology to treat AF, catheter ablation using pulsed field energy was clinically effective in 78% of patients with AF.
Background
Telemedicine has rapidly emerged as an important tool in emergency neurology. In particular, reliable biomarkers of large vessel occlusions (LVOs) are critically necessary in order to identify the need for in-hospital mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Based on pathophysiological factors, we propose that the presence of head and/or gaze deviation alone signifies cortical hypoperfusion and is therefore a highly sensitive marker for the presence of LVO.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 160 patients, examined via telemedicine and suspected to have had an acute stroke; this included patients with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and stroke mimics. An assessment of head and gaze deviation and NIHSS score evaluation was performed. In a second analysis, patients who only had ischemia in the anterior circulation (n = 110) were evaluated.
Results
Head and/or gaze deviation alone was found to be a reliable marker of LVO (sensitivity: 0.66/specificity: 0.92), as well as a sound indicator for MT (0.82/0.91), in patients with suspected ischemic stroke. The performance of this indicator further improved when patients with ischemia in the anterior circulation only were assessed (LVO: 0.70/0.93; MT: 0.86/0.90). In both analyses, head and/or gaze deviation served as a better indicator for LVO or MT compared to the prevalence of motor deficits or aphasia. Of note, in patients who had ischemia in the anterior circulation, head and/or gaze deviation performed better than the NIHSS score as an indicator for MT.
Conclusion
These findings confirm that the presence of head and/or gaze deviation serves as a reliable biomarker in stroke-based telemedicine for the diagnosis of LVO, as well as a strong indicator for MT. Furthermore, this marker is just as reliable as the NIHSS score but easier to assess. We therefore suggest that any stroke patient who displays head and/or gaze deviation should immediately be scheduled for vessel imaging and subsequently transported to a MT-competent center.
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The prevalence of child and adolescent obesity has plateaued at high levels in most high-income countries and is increasing in many low-income and middle-income countries. Obesity arises when a mix of genetic and epigenetic factors, behavioural risk patterns and broader environmental and sociocultural influences affect the two body weight regulation systems: energy homeostasis, including leptin and gastrointestinal tract signals, operating predominantly at an unconscious level, and cognitive-emotional control that is regulated by higher brain centres, operating at a conscious level. Health-related quality of life is reduced in those with obesity. Comorbidities of obesity, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease and depression, are more likely in adolescents and in those with severe obesity. Treatment incorporates a respectful, stigma-free and family-based approach involving multiple components, and addresses dietary, physical activity, sedentary and sleep behaviours. In adolescents in particular, adjunctive therapies can be valuable, such as more intensive dietary therapies, pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery. Prevention of obesity requires a whole-system approach and joined-up policy initiatives across government departments. Development and implementation of interventions to prevent paediatric obesity in children should focus on interventions that are feasible, effective and likely to reduce gaps in health inequalities.
Feedback of data quality measures to study sites is an established procedure in the management of registries. Comparisons of data quality between registries as a whole are missing. We implemented a cross-registry benchmarking of data quality within the field of health services research for six projects. Five (2020) and six (2021) quality indicators were selected from a national recommendation. The calculation of the indicators was adjusted to the registries' specific settings. Nineteen (2020) and 29 results (2021) could be included in the yearly quality report. Seventy-four per cent (2020) and 79% (2021) of the results did not include the threshold in their 95%-confidence-limits. The benchmarking revealed several starting points for a weak-point analysis through a comparison of results with a predefined threshold as well as through comparisons among each other. In the future, a cross-registry benchmarking might be part of services provided through a health services research infrastructure.
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological mechanism in multiple pathophysiological diseases. Related alterations in cadherin expression play a crucial role in carcinogenesis, progression, angiogenesis, and immune response. EMT cells exhibit a transition from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype (cadherin-switch). This process is characterized by the de novo development of N-cadherin (N-CAD), which replaces E-cadherin (E-CAD) and signifies an increased migratory capacity and malignant transformation. The cadherin switch is a hallmark of EMT and has been studied in various cancer entities. We predicted that the cadherin switch in the primary and recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma (re-OSCC) tissues is an inherent characteristic of the tumor, affects the biologic behavior, and further reflects the post-recurrence survival outcome of these patients. Survival outcome was analyzed by calculating the post-recurrence survival of the high-risk group and correlating the standardized h-score -based IHC expression of both cadherin types with the clinical follow-up. 94 patients with re-OSCC were observed within the cohort. Tissue samples from both primary and recurring tumors were collected. There was a significant association between loss of E-CAD expression and both oral cancer-specific and overall survival, (HR=2.72, CI:1.50-4.95, p =0.001) and (HR=3.84, CI:1.93-7.63, p =0.001), respectively, for expression loss higher than 60%. There was no statistically significant correlation between N-CAD de novo expression and Overall, oral cancer-specific and disease-free post-recurrence survival. The current study clearly shows that cadherin-switch, identified as E-CAD loss and N-CAD de novo expression in the invasion front of a re-OSCC, appears to be an inherent histological hallmark that does not change from primary manifestation to recurrence within the same tumor, regardless of the form of adjuvant therapy used for the primary tumor. The loss of E-CAD expression in re-OSCC is an independent risk factor for poor survival, and may be used to stratify therapy and de/escalate the multimodal treatment.
Abstract Background The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) in Germany is increasingly challenged by strongly rising demand. Speculations about a greater utilisation for minor cases have led to intensive media coverage, but empirical evidence is lacking. We investigated the development of low-acuity calls from 2018 to 2021 in the federal state of Berlin and its correlations with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods We analysed over 1.5 million call documentations including medical dispatch codes, age, location and time using descriptive and inferential statistics and multivariate binary logistic regression. We defined a code list to classify low-acuity calls and merged the dataset with sociodemographic indicators and data on population density. Results The number of emergency calls (phone number 112 in Germany) increased by 9.1% from 2018 to 2021; however, the proportion of low-acuity calls did not increase. The regression model shows higher odds of low-acuity for young to medium age groups (especially for age 0–9, OR 1.50 [95% CI 1.45–1.55]; age 10–19, OR 1.77 [95% CI 1.71–1.83]; age 20–29, OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.59–1.68] and age 30–39, OR 1.40 [95% CI 1.37–1.44]; p
Abstract Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has been linked with body image (BI) impairment and reduced quality of life (QoL). We sought to evaluate the associations between Cutaneous Body Image Scale (CBIS) and disease severity in HS patients.Between July 2020 and January 2022, a cross-sectional study was carried out including consecutive HS patients above the age of 16 who attended a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Greece. Disease Severity was graded with the Hurley stage, HS-Physician’s Global Assessment (HS-PGA) scale, and the Modified Sartorius scale (MSS). Patients completed at their first visit ten survey instruments including Patients’ Severity of disease, pain and pruritus scale, CBIS, Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) including 5 subscales: Appearance Evaluation (AE), Appearance Orientation (AO), Body Areas Satisfaction Scale (BASS), Overweight Preoccupation (OWP), and Self Classified Weight (SCW) , Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI), Skindex-16, EQ5D 5L, EQ- visual analogue scale (VAS), PHQ9, and GAD7. In total, 70 HS patients above 16 years old participated, mean [SD] age, 34.44 [11.64] years; 49/70 (70%) males and 21/70 (30%) females. Mean ± SD CBI, DLQI, Skindex-16 total, EQ-5D-5L, EQ VAS, PHQ9 and GAD7 were 5.59 ± 1.58, 11.70 ± 8.88, 52.90 ± 27.75, 0.75 ± 0.21, 62.48 ± 21.12, 7.64 ± 5.56, 7.87 ± 5.23 respectively. Moderate to severe CBI dissatisfaction was reported by 36/70 (51.42%) patients. CBI was correlated with appearance evaluation (AE) (p
Introduction:
Covid-19 is linked with the development of cardio-metabolic disorders, including dyslipidemia, dysregulation of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Furthermore, SARS-Co-2 infection is associated with noteworthy changes in lipid profile, which is suggested as a possible biomarker to support the diagnosis and management of Covid-19.
Methods:
This paper adopts the literature review method to obtain information about how Covid-19 affects high-risk group patients and may cause severe and critical effects due to the development of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. A narrative and comprehensive review is presented.
Results:
Reducing HDL in Covid-19 is connected to the disease severity and poor clinical outcomes, suggesting that high HDL serum levels could benefit Covid-19. SARS-CoV-2 binds HDL, and this complex is attached to the co-localized receptors, facilitating viral entry. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 infection may induce the development of dysfunctional HDL through different mechanisms, including induction of inflammatory and oxidative stress with activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. In turn, the induction of dysfunctional HDL induces the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways and oxidative stress, increasing Covid-19 severity.
Conclusions:
Covid-19 is linked with the development of cardio-metabolic disorders, including dyslipidemia in general and dysregulation of high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein. Therefore, the present study aimed to overview the causal relationship between dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein and Covid-19.
This short communication will enlighten the readers about the exosome and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related to several complicated events. It also highlighted the therapeutic potential of exosomes against EMT. Exosome toxicology, exosome heterogeneity, and a single exosome profiling approach are also covered in this article. In the future, exosomes could help us get closer to cancer vaccine and precision oncology.
Human Islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) from pancreatic β cells in the islet of Langerhans has different physiological functions including inhibiting the release of insulin and glucagon. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an endocrine disorder due to relative insulin insufficiency and insulin resistance (IR) is associated with increased circulating hIAPP. Remarkably, hIAPP has structural similarity with amyloid beta (Aβ) and can engage in the pathogenesis of T2DM and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, the present review aimed to elucidate how hIAPP acts as a link between T2DM and AD. IR, aging and low β cell mass increase expression of hIAPP which binds cell membrane leading to the aberrant release of Ca 2+ and activation of the proteolytic enzymes leading to a series of events causing loss of β cells. Peripheral hIAPP plays a major role in the pathogenesis of AD, and high circulating hIAPP level increase AD risk in T2DM patients. However, there is no hard evidence for the role of brain-derived hIAPP in the pathogenesis of AD. Nevertheless, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, chaperon-mediated autophagy, heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), immune response, and zinc homeostasis in T2DM could be the possible mechanisms for the induction of the aggregation of hIAPP which increase AD risk. In conclusion, increasing hIAPP circulating levels in T2DM patients predispose them to the development and progression of AD. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists attenuate AD in T2DM by inhibiting expression and deposition of hIAP.
Background
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major health problem in the western world. Despite a widespread implementation of integrated care programs there are still patients with poorly controlled T2DM. Shared goal setting within the process of Shared Decision Making (SDM) may increase patient’s compliance and adherence to treatment regimen. In our secondary analysis of the cluster-randomized controlled DEBATE trial, we investigated if patients with shared vs. non-shared HbA1c treatment goal, achieve their glycemic goals.
Methods
In a German primary care setting, we collected data before intervention at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months. Patients with T2DM with an HbA1c ≥ 8.0% (64 mmol/mol) at the time of recruitment and complete data at baseline and after 24 months were eligible for the presented analyses. Using a generalized estimating equation analysis, we analysed the association between the achievement of HbA1c goals at 24 months based on their shared vs. non-shared status, age, sex, education, partner status, controlled for baseline HbA1c and insulin therapy.
Results
From N = 833 recruited patients at baseline, n = 547 (65.7%) from 105 General Practitioners (GPs) were analysed. 53.4% patients were male, 33.1% without a partner, 64.4% had a low educational level, mean age was 64.6 (SD 10.6), 60.7% took insulin at baseline, mean baseline HbA1c was 9.1 (SD 1.0). For 287 patients (52.5%), the GPs reported to use HbA1c as a shared goal, for 260 patients (47.5%) as a non-shared goal. 235 patients (43.0%) reached the HbA1c goal after two years, 312 patients (57.0%) missed it. Multivariable analysis shows that shared vs. non-shared HbA1c goal setting, age, sex, and education are not associated with the achievement of the HbA1c goal. However, patients living without a partner show a higher risk of missing the goal (p = .003; OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.25–2.86).
Conclusions
Shared goal setting with T2DM patients targeting on HbA1c-levels had no significant impact on goal achievement. It may be assumed, that shared goal setting on patient-related clinical outcomes within the process of SDM has not been fully captured yet.
Trial registration
The trial was registered at ISRCTN registry under the reference ISRCTN70713571.
Background and purpose:
First-generation sGC stimulators have shown clinical benefit in pulmonary hypertension (riociguat), and chronic heart failure (vericiguat). However, given the broad therapeutic opportunities for sGC stimulators, tailored molecules for distinct indications are required.
Experimental approach:
We report the high-throughput screening (HTS) -based discovery of a second-generation of sGC stimulators from a novel imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine lead series. An intense medicinal chemistry program resulted in the discovery of the sGC stimulator BAY-747. The pharmacokinetic profile of BAY-747 was determined in different species and BAY-747 was broadly characterized in pharmacological model systems relevant for vasodilatation and hypertension.
Key results:
BAY-747 was characterized as a highly potent sGC stimulator in vitro. In addition, BAY-747 showed an excellent pharmacokinetic profile with long half-life and low peak-to-trough ratio. BAY-747 was investigated in experimental in vivo models of malignant and resistant hypertension (rHT). In spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats, BAY-747 caused a dose-related and long-lasting decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). Oral treatment over 12 days resulted in a persistent MAP decrease. BAY-747 provided additional benefit when dosed on top of losartan, amlodipine, or spironolactone and even on top of triple combinations of frequently used antihypertensive drugs. In a new canine model of resistant hypertension BAY-747 caused a dose-related and long lasting (> 6 h) MAP decrease.
Conclusion and implications:
BAY-747 is a potent, orally available sGC stimulator. BAY-747 shows long-acting pharmacodynamic effects with a very low peak-to-trough ratio. BAY-747 could be a treatment alternative for patients with hypertension, especially those not responding to standard of care therapy.
Objectives: Positive effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on occupational health have been demonstrated by several systematic review studies during the last two decades. So far, existing reviews excluded mindfulness-informed interventions (MIIs) that build on informal approaches or mixed techniques aiming at improving mindfulness indirectly. To address this research gap, the present comprehensive meta-analysis synthesizes the results of RCTs of MBIs and MIIs conducted in various workplace settings.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in five electronic databases complemented by manual search. Random-effects models were used to synthesize standardized mean differences (SMDs) for 25 outcomes and seven overarching categories of outcomes, and to detect various temporal effects. Meta-regressions were run to elucidate average SMDs between mindfulness intervention types as well as intervention and population characteristics, with the goal of detecting sources of heterogeneity and help guide the selection of the most appropriate mindfulness intervention type.
Results: Based on 91 eligible studies (from 92 publications), including 4,927 participants and 4,448 controls, the synthesis shows that MBIs and MIIs significantly improve mindfulness (SMD=0.43; 95%-CI[0.33;0.52]), well-being (SMD=0.63; 95%-CI[0.34;0.93]), mental health (SMD=0.67; 95%-CI[0.48;0.86]), stress (SMD=0.72; 95%-CI[0.54;0.90]), resilience (SMD=1.06; 95%-CI[-0.22;2.34]), physical health (SMD=0.45; 95%-CI[0.32;0.59]) and work-related factors (SMD=0.62; 95%-CI[0.14;1.10]). Sensitivity analyses demonstrate a tendency towards smaller effect sizes due to extreme outliers. Effect sizes are stable in short-term follow-up assessments (1-12 weeks) for most outcomes, but not for long-term follow-up assessments (13-52 weeks). Meta-regressions suggest that observable intervention characteristics (e.g., online delivery) and population characteristics (e.g., age of participants), as well as study quality do not explain the prevalence of heterogeneity in effect sizes.
Conclusions: Generally effective, mindfulness interventions are a useful tool to enhance aspects of employee health. However, because of heterogeneity and risk of bias, studies aiming at high quality data collection and thorough reporting are necessary to draw firm conclusions.
Background:
Although organ transplantation is a very effective clinical solution to save the lives of patients suffering from organ failure, the supply of donated organs still cannot meet its growing demand. Educating the society about organ donation is a critical success factor in increasing donation rates, especially in countries that require potential donors to proactively register and opt-in (e.g., Germany). While social media has emerged as an effective tool for disseminating health information, recent evidence suggests that published organ donation content (both online and offline), aimed at raising awareness, still lacks effectiveness. To develop recommendations for optimizing organ donation messaging via social media, this study not only examines the current state of organ donation communication on Instagram, but also identifies factors that contribute to message effectiveness.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective content analysis to in-depth assess organ donation-related content published on Instagram in Germany between January and March 2022. Systematic coding allowed to identify common themes, sentiments, and communication strategies, which were analyzed for their effectiveness using linear regression analyses.
Results:
Of the 500 organ donation posts, 57% were published by institutional authors while the remainder was shared by private accounts. Most content was aimed at the general population and shared neutral (80%) or positive sentiments (17%). Transformative messages, positive emotions, posts published by the transplant recipient and the image of a human served as predictors for post effectiveness measured in terms of likes (p < 0.001) and comments (p < 0.01). Sharing personal experiences (p < 0.01) and highlighting the meaning of organ donations (p < 0.05) resulted in significantly higher audience engagement than any other topic discussed.
Conclusion:
Our findings highlight the need for health officials to work closely with organ transplant recipients to publicly advocate for organ donations by sharing personal and transformative messages. The high share of posts published by transplant recipients indicates a certain openness to share personal experiences with broad audiences. Different message characteristics served as predictors for message effectiveness (i.e., increased audience engagement) which can likely be extrapolated to other health-related use cases (e.g., cancer screening).
This article explores how cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) operating in a development context built resilience during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a qualitative analysis of eight partnerships operating in East-Africa, Central America, and Indonesia, I show how CSPs engaged in three practices of resilience building (i.e., forming unconventional alliances, mobilizing digital technologies, and building subnetworks), which allowed them to remain functional despite facing adversity. In addition to fostering their resilience, my findings show how engaging in these practices enabled the CSPs to develop new capabilities (i.e., improved abilities to engage with beneficiaries) that benefit them in the long run. Based on these insights, I advance our understanding of resilience building by unpacking this concept on a CSP level. Furthermore, by unfolding the relevance of incidental learning in a cross-sectoral setting, I widen our knowledge of learning processes in CSPs.
Objective:
To assess whether a healthy lifestyle is associated to beneficial effects on various systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) health domains.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional study, Mediterranean Diet Adherence Score (MEDAS), physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), and smoking status were assessed by questionnaires, along with clinical parameters and various health domains including Systemic Lupus Disease Activity Score (SLEDAI), Depression Scale (CES-D), Fatigue Severity (FSS), functional status (FFbH), physical and mental quality of life (PCS, MCS). Lifestyle choices were assessed with respect to health domains by linear regression modeling. Additionally, SLE patients with a healthy lifestyle (MEDAS ≥ 4, ≥ 1 h sport per week, no smoking) were compared to those without by Wilcoxon's signed-rank test.
Results:
49 of 145 SLE patients (44.3 ± 31.7 years, 87.6% female) followed a healthy lifestyle and showed a higher physical quality of life (β = 4.5 (95%-CI 1.5-7.9) p = 0.01), lower depression (β = -5.0 (-8.2 to -0.2) p = 0.02) and lower fatigue (β = -0.8 (-1.5 to -0.2) p = 0.01) independently of SLE disease activity. Furthermore, dsDNA-antibodies were lower (146 ± 540 vs 266 ± 146 U/mL, p = 0.049). In a more detailed analysis, physical activity had the highest impact on the various health domains when compared to smoking or diet adherence, which was consistent even after adjusting for multiple potential confounders. Each 1,000 kcal of weekly PAEE was associated to a 1.8 (0.9-2.6) point increase in the PCS (p = 0.0001), a 0.2 (0.03-0.4) point decrease in the CES-D (p = 0.01) and a 2.8 (1.2-4.4) point increase in the FFbH (p = 0.0006).
Conclusion:
A healthy lifestyle, especially physical activity is associated with beneficial effects including quality of life, depression and fatigue in SLE.
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