Tolerance to Minimal Physical Activity in Adolescents With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
In modern medicine, the issue of rheumatic diseases remains one of the most significant and socio-economically impactful problems due to the high rates of disability and loss of working capacity among these patients. The main cause of decreased quality of life and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is cardiovascular pathology, leading to the development of heart failure. An early symptom of myocardial dysfunction is the patient’s loss of ability to perform routine physical activities in daily life. The aim of the study was to assess tolerance to minimal physical exertion in adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus. A total of 46 adolescents with SLE were examined. They underwent the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) with measurement of several parameters at rest and during the first minute of recovery following exertion. Results: Patients with SLE covered a shorter distance during the 6-minute period. Both before and after the Six-Minute Walk Test, elevated heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) values were recorded. This may indicate strain on the adaptive capacities of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems against the background of sympathetic activation of the autonomic nervous system, which likely leads to impaired autonomic regulation of these systems and disruption of myocardial perfusion.
