Abstract 15867: Flexibility Modifies the Age-related Arterial Stiffness in Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune multisystemic disease associated with premature cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Arterial stiffness is an age-dependent powerful cardiovascular risk predictor, which is elevated in SLE. The elasticity of the vascular wall and muscle flexibility are both partially determined by elastin-collagen composition, and whereas cardiorespiratory fitness seems to delay the age-related arterial stiffening in SLE, it might be speculated that flexibility (another component of physical fitness) could reduce the sympathetic nervous system dysfunction observed in patients with SLE and thus reduce arterial stiffness. However, whether higher flexibility is related to lower age-related arterial stiffness in SLE is unknown. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that flexibilitymay attenuate the negative effect of age on arterial stiffness in women with SLE. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 76 women with SLE (age 43.2, SD 13.8) with mild disease activity. Arterial stiffness was assessed with pulse wave velocity (PWV), flexibility by the back-scratch test, disease activity through SLEDAI, and cumulative organ damage with SDI, blood pressure by standardized methods and menopause status by questionnaire. Quantile regression tested the association of age, flexibility, and their interaction, with PWV (controlling for mean blood pressure, menopause, SLEDAI, SDI and corticosteroids exposure). Sample size was determined for a two-tailed test with a power of 0.8, significance p < 0.05 and effect size > 0.7 (n=34). Results: There was a back-scratchхage interaction effect on PWV ( p <0.001). For women with -20 cm in the back-scratch test (i.e. short to touch her middle fingers behind the back), PWV was 0.107 m/s higher for 1-year increase in age, whereas for women with 15 cm, PVW was 0.064 m/s higher for 1-year increase in age. Conclusion: In conclusion, higher flexibility is associated with a lower increase in age-related arterial stiffness in SLE women. Further research is needed to determine whether improving flexibility through stretching exercises reduces the arterial stiffness associated with aging.