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Effects of High-intensity Interval Training in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
Interventions
Behavioral: HIIT combined with resistance training
Registration Number
NCT06166199
Lead Sponsor
Karolinska Institutet
Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with resistance training in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Detailed Description

The overall aim of this randomized controlled study, is to evaluate the safety and effects of HIIT combined with resistance exercises on aerobic capacity, muscle function, patient reported outcomes, disease activity and immune function in patients with SLE with low to moderate disease activity and no to little organ damage. The aim is also to explore and describe patient's experiences of the training.

The research questions are:

1. What are the differences between the HIIT combined with resistance exercises and a control group, after 3 months of supervised training and after further 3 months of self training with video-call/telephone support until 6 months follow up, regarding aerobic capacity, muscle function, physician and patient reported disease activity, fatigue, depressive symptoms, and quality of life?

2. What are the differences between the HIIT combined with resistance exercises and a control group, after 3 months of supervised training and after further 3 months of self training with video-call/telephone support until 6 months follow up, regarding inflammatory markers such as interleukin 6 and 10 and interferon molecules? Both acute exercise test (maximal ergometercycle test) effects as well as the long term effects of training will be evaluated.

3. How do individuals with SLE experience HIIT combined with resistance exercises ? What are the perceived barriers and facilitators for performing and maintaining such training?

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • ≥18 years old
  • Fulfilment of the 1982 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria; or 2012 Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC/ACR-Damage Index (DI)) classification criteria; or EULAR/ACR criteria; or patients that have received the diagnosis SLE on clinical grounds
  • Low to moderate disease activity, for example defined as a score of ≤5 in the clinical version of the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K), i.e., excluding the serological descriptors (anti-dsDNA positivity and low complement levels)
  • Low/minimal or no organ damage, for example defined as a score of ≤3 in the SLICC/ACR DI
  • Stable pharmacological treatment
  • The ability to perform a maximal ergometercycle exercise test
  • Be able to read and understand Swedish
Exclusion Criteria
  • Symptoms or signs of cerebro-vascular disease, pulmonary embolus, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, cardiovascular disease, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, dyspnea at rest, uncontrolled blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes within one year prior to study entry. Chronic kidney disease with
  • Patients who fulfil the absolute contraindications for maximal exercise testing according to American Heart Association
  • Patients who cannot perform a maximal ergometercycle exercise test due to the disease
  • Diseases or other conditions that strongly reduce the ability to exercise or that exercise is not recommended
  • Patients who perform regular aerobic fitness training and muscle strength exercise sessions at fixed times, >1 time/week
  • Pregnancy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with resistance trainingHIIT combined with resistance trainingPatients with SLE will undergo supervised HIIT on an ergometercycle 4 x 4 minutes interval (85-90% of maximal heart rate in 4 minutes and lower intensity for another 4 minutes etc). The HIIT is combined with resistance exercises for upper and lower extremity. In total the supervised training takes around 50 minutes per occasion and will be performed 2 times/week, for 3 months. In addition, the patients will exercise, according to the program, by themselves once a week. Between months 3 and 6 the patients exercise by themselves, 3 times/week, with video-call/telephone support from a physiotherapist once a week.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Aerobic capacityBaseline, months 3 and 6

Aerobic capacity is measured as maximal oxygen uptake when performing a maximal symptom-limited, ergometercycle exercise test

Physical capacityBaseline, months 3 and 6

Physical capacity are measured when performing a symptom-limited, ergometercycle exercise test

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Muscle function upper extremityBaseline, months 3 and 6

How many shoulder flexions (0-90 degrees), in a given pace, with a 3 kg (men) or 2 kg (women) dumbbell in the hand is possible to do

Health statusBaseline, months 3 and 6

The patient-reported questionnaire EuroQol 5-dimensions (EQ-5D)-5L Visual analogue scale, 0-100 mm, the higher the value, the better the health

Anxiety and depressive symptomsBaseline, months 3 and 6

The patient-reported questionnaire Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale goes from 0-21 points, the higher the value, the higher the anxiety and depressive symptoms. In the anxiety and depressive symptoms subscales the points goes from 0-6, the higher the value, the higher anxiety and depressive symptoms respectively

Blood pressureBaseline, month 3 and 6

Resting diastolic and systolic blood pressure

Self-reported disease activityBaseline, months 3 and 6

The patient-reported questionnaire Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity Questionnaire includes three parts. The part about disease symptoms goes from 0-47 points, the higher the points the more disease symptoms. Further there is a question about flares with four answer alternatives, from no flares to serious flares. There is also a numerical rating scale about disease activity on a scale from 0-10, the higher value the higher the disease activity

Inflammatory markersBaseline, months 3 and 6

Blood samples are collected before and after maximal ergometercycle exercise test

FatigueBaseline, months 3 and 6

The patient-reported questionnaire Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy, FACIT-Fatigue goes from 0-52 points, the higher the value, the less the fatigue

Quality of life in SLEBaseline, months 3 and 6

The patient-reported questionnaire Lupus Quality of life questionnaire goes from 0-100 points, the higher the value the better the quality of life

Generic Quality of lifeBaseline, months 3 and 6

The patient-reported questionnaire Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Each subscale goes from 0-100 points, the higher the value, the higher the quality of life.

Quality of life and health statusBaseline, months 3 and 6

The patient-reported questionnaire EuroQol 5-dimensions (EQ-5D). The index scores goes from -0,594 till 1,000, the higher the value, the higher the quality of life

Disease activityBaseline, months 3 and 6

SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) assessed by a physician, goes from 0-105 points, the higher the value, the higher the disease activity

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Carina Boström

🇸🇪

Stockholm, Huddinge, Sweden

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