Association between frailty and brain atrophy in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• Grant number: 24/08335-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Simone Appenzeller
• Grantee: Rafaela Barbosa Pagnano
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic and multisystemic autoimmune disease, with variable prognosis and course. Despite significant advances in the treatment and prognosis of SLE, high morbidity and mortality are still observed in this population. Frailty, a condition that confers greater vulnerability to an individual, is closely related to higher mortality and adverse health events in patients with SLE. In addition to other outcomes, a higher frailty index is associated with the occurrence of cerebral atrophy.Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether frailty contributes to the development of cerebral atrophy in patients with SLE, through the analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and medical records. The selected patients will be divided into 2 groups, classified as frail or non-frail, according to the SLICC-FI index. Additionally, the following variables will be compared between the groups: age, sex, corticosteroid dose, use of immunosuppressants, disease activity and damage (SLEDAI), central nervous system involvement, and cardiovascular risk.Keywords: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, frailty index, cerebral atrophy, magnetic resonance imaging.