@misc{10481/54878,
year = {2019},
month = {2},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10481/54878},
abstract = {Background and objectives: Higher physical fitness is associated with a more favorable
weight and body composition in the general population, although this association has not been
studied in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of the present study was to
examine the association of different components of physical fitness with body composition in
women with SLE with mild disease activity. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study
included 77 women with SLE (43.2 ± 13.8 years old) and clinical stability during the previous 6
months. Body composition (including body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), waist
circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio) was assessed using a stadiometer, an
anthropometric tape, and a bioimpedance device. Physical fitness included cardiorespiratory fitness
(Siconolfi step test and 6 min walk test), muscular strength (handgrip strength test as upper body
measure and 30 s chair stand as lower body measure), and flexibility (back-scratch test). Participants
with a fitness level equal or above the median of the study sample were categorized as “fit” and
those below the median were categorized as “unfit”. Linear regression assessed the association of
physical fitness with body composition parameters. Results: Cardiorespiratory fitness and upper
body muscular strength were negatively associated with BMI, FMI, waist circumference, and waistto-
height ratio (all, p < 0.05). Lower body muscular strength and flexibility were negatively related
to FMI, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-hip ratio (all, p < 0.05). These
relationships were still significant after controlling for age, disease duration, accrual damage, and
SLE activity. Overall, fit patients presented significantly lower values in all body composition
parameters compared to unfit patients (all, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The main findings of the present
study suggest that physical fitness is inversely associated with body composition in women with SLE.
Given the cross-sectional nature of this study, future clinical trials should study the causal pathways
underlying these relationships.},
organization = {This work was supported by Consejería de Salud, Junta de Andalucía (grant number: PI-0525-2016)
and by the Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Médicos de Granada (Premios de Investigación 2017). BGC was supported
by the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU15/00002).},
publisher = {MDPI},
keywords = {Physical fitness},
keywords = {Flexibility},
keywords = {Muscular strength},
keywords = {Cardiorespiratory fitness},
keywords = {Body composition},
keywords = {Systemic lupus erythematosus},
keywords = {Obesity},
title = {Physical Fitness and Body Composition in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus},
doi = {10.3390/medicina55020057},
author = {Sola Rodríguez, Sergio and Gavilán Carrera, Blanca and Vargas Hitos, José Antonio and Sabio, José Mario and Morillas de Laguno, Pablo and Soriano‑Maldonado, Alberto},
}