Potentially modifiable factors, such as social factors, have been associated with lower disease activity and increased positive illness adjustment in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients, but no systematic review on their impact is available. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review on the modifiable predictors (psychological, social and behavioral) of adjustment to SLE and disease activity. Search was conducted in eight databases (e.g., PsycArticles, PubMed), with over 40 keywords’ combinations (e.g., adjustment, predictor, social). Two phases of screening, according to pre-specified inclusion criteria, were performed independently by two authors for the first 35% of references (91.4% agreement), and by one author for the remaining, with disagreements resolved by a third author. A standardized form was used for data extraction, including predictors, outcome measures and effect sizes. A qualitative data synthesis is taking place using the Framework of Adjustment to Chronic Disease, and the National Institute of Health (UK) tools for study quality assessment. A total of 2007 references were initially identified, with 80 retained for synthesis. Preliminary findings stress the most relevant categories of psychological (n=8;self-perception, catastrophizing, knowledge/literacy, coping, perceived stress, illness/treatment cognitions, control perception and dispositional factors), social (n= 3; stigma, interaction with others/groups, relation with healthcare system and professionals) and behavioral factors (n=4; physical activity, diet, additive behaviors and miscellaneous) that are related with adjustment and lupus disease activity. These results highlight the potential for multidisciplinary components, as social interactions, to be integrated in interventions to improve adjustment in SLE patients.

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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,adjustment,quality of life,disease activity,social predictors