Full Papers
Social support and depression status are risk factors of frailty in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: multicentre retrospective analysis using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics-Frailty Index
Y.-J. Oh1, E.Y. Lee2, J.Y. Kim3, S.R. Choi4, I.A. Choi5, J. Yeo6, S.-J. Yoo7, K. Shin8, J.H. Lee9, Y.J. Lee10, J.W. Song11, J.E. Park12, B.-J. Hahm13, Y.W. Song14
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea.
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
- Division of Rheumatology, Seoul Metropolitan Government – Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
- Bom Vichae Physical Therapy Clinic, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul; and Institute of Human Behavioural Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul; and Institute of Human Behavioural Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
- Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; and Song Rheumatology Clinic, Seoul, Korea. ysong@snu.ac.kr
CER18561
2025 Vol.43, N°11
PI 1855, PF 1861
Full Papers
PMID: 41217809 [PubMed]
Received: 22/01/2025
Accepted : 14/04/2025
In Press: 11/11/2025
Published: 11/11/2025
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
The aim of this study was to identify risk factors related to frailty and determine associations between frailty, depression status, and social support in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
METHODS:
Patients with SLE from five tertiary hospitals in Korea completed the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC)-Frailty Index (FI), the Patient Health Questionnaires-9 Korean version (PHQ-9K), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaires. Logistic and simple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate factors associated with frailty in patients with SLE and to analyse associations between SLICC-FI, PHQ-9K, and MSPSS scores.
RESULTS:
According to SLICC-FI, 36 (14.6%) patients were classified as frail. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.054; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.013–1.097; p=0.009), SDI score (OR: 2.995; 95% CI: 1.940–4.622; p<0.001), and PHQ-9 ≥10 (OR: 7.884; 95% CI: 2.785–22.319; p<0.001) were significant risk factors for frailty in patients with SLE. In simple linear regression analysis, SLICC-FI demonstrated a negative correlation with MSPSS (R2 = 0.06, p≤0.001) but a positive correlation with PHQ-9K (R2 = 0.276, p<0.001). MSPSS showed a negative correlation with PHQ-9K (R2 = 0.147, p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
Age, SDI score, and depression status were risk factors for frailty in patients with SLE. In addition, lower social support scores were associated with increases of depression status and frailty in patients with SLE. Therefore, active social support may be important for improving depression status and preventing frailty in patients with SLE.
