This systematic review assessed the efficacy of lifestyle interventions for managing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) across six domains: physical exercise, diet, mental health, harmful exposures, sleep, and social relations. It included 102 studies, with the most research on mental health and exercise. Psychological interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), improved depressive symptoms, anxiety, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) Physical exercise reduced fatigue, depressive symptoms, and improved physical function. Diet studies suggested that low-fat and Mediterranean diets could reduce cardiovascular risk and improve disease control. Photoprotection was also emphasized for managing skin-related SLE symptoms.
The quality of evidence was limited, with significant heterogeneity across studies. While psychosocial and exercise interventions showed benefits for patient-reported outcomes, lifestyle changes had little impact on disease activity. Areas like harmful exposures (e.g., smoking and photoprotection) and sleep were less studied. The review concludes that lifestyle interventions should complement pharmacotherapy, not replace it, and calls for more robust research to refine strategies and better understand their role in managing SLE.
Reference: Tsoi A, Gomez A, Boström C, et al. Efficacy of lifestyle interventions in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review of the literature. Rheumatol Int. 2024 May;44(5):765-778. doi: 10.1007/s00296-024-05548-x. Epub 2024 Mar 7. PMID: 38451302; PMCID: PMC10980639.
