Abstract
BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-system autoimmune disease that significantly affects both the physical and mental health of patients. Psychosocial support systems play a crucial role in managing chronic diseases, yet their specific impact on the disease activity of SLE patients remains unclear. This study aims to explore the dynamic relationship between disease activity in SLE patients and various types of psychosocial support systems. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal observational study, including 150 SLE patients who received treatment at our hospital from January 2022 to January 2023. Emotional support, tangible support, social interaction support, and informational support were assessed using the revised Social Support Rating Scale. Disease activity was quantified using the European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement. The relationship between psychosocial support and disease activity was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression models, with Bootstrap resampling employed to test the robustness of the results. RESULTS: We found a significant negative correlation between psychosocial support and SLE disease activity, with emotional support, social interaction support, and informational support showing stronger negative correlations. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the inhibitory effects of emotional support, social interaction support, and informational support on disease activity increased over time. Although the impact of tangible support was not statistically significant, it gradually became more apparent over time. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate a significant negative correlation between psychosocial support and SLE disease activity, particularly with emotional support, social interaction support, and informational support. Over time, the impact of tangible support also becomes evident. These findings provide important references for the comprehensive treatment and management of SLE patients. However, due to the observational nature of the study, the causality of this relationship requires further exploration.