Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Autonomic dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis
Authors' conclusion
Autonomic symptom burden appears to be higher in patients with SLE and SSc than in controls.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or systemic sclerosis (SSc) and controls without autoimmune disease
- Participants
- 50 / 50 / 35
- Exposure
- SLE and SSc vs controls without autoimmune disease
- SLEn = 50
- SScn = 50
- Controlsn = 35reference
- Outcome
- Autonomic symptom burden (COMPASS-31 total score)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Total COMPASS-31 score, median
SLE
15.43
median
SSc
20.53
median
Controls
9.03
median
P = 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | SLE | SSc | Controls | β | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High autonomic symptom burden (COMPASS-31 >32.5, post-hoc cut-off)Post-hoc cut-off | 14% | 26% | 0 events | ||
| Total COMPASS-31, adjusted for age, sex and comorbiditySLE vs Controls | 7.01 | P = 0.013 | |||
| Total COMPASS-31, adjusted for age, sex and comorbiditySSc vs Controls | 11.24 | P < 0.001 |
Orthostatic and vasomotor symptom burden
- Higher in SSc than in SLE
Predictors of high symptom burden (multivariable models)
- SLE: serositis and joint involvement predicted high symptom burden
- SSc: clinically significant gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal involvement were independent predictors
Original publication
Autonomic dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis. Lupus. Published 2 July 2026. doi:10.
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