Estimating Quality of Life for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Using aiSLE® MGMT: A Smart Disease Management Platform

OBJECTIVES: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by episodic flares and damage to various body tissues and organs. This study evaluated Quality of Life (QoL) measures in SLE patients using aiSLE® MGMT, an engagement platform utilizing AI and patient-centered analytics.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective study with five US rheumatology practices. A total of 50 participants were recruited and followed quarterly for up to one year; 45 completed the study. Each quarter, participants reported the following QoL outcomes: (1) Lupus Impact Tracker (LIT)—10 items on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (never experience) to 4 (always experience), (2) FACIT fatigue questionnaire--13 items on a 5-point Likert scale (0-4), and (3) SLE-QoL--40 items on a 1-7 Likert scale. Physicians reported Physician Global Assessment (PGA) visual analog scores reflecting their judgement of disease activity.

RESULTS: The LIT total score decreased from 19.32 at baseline to 16.52 in quarter 4. All LIT metrics showed a negative slope led by reductions in not limiting social activities (1.90 at baseline to 1.49 at Q4) and not waking up worn out (2.62 at baseline to 2.26 at Q4). For FACIT trends, 11 of 13 items implied a reduction in the impact of fatigue; the strongest favorable slopes were in the general feeling of fatigue/frustration with fatigue effects. For the SLE-QoL metrics, there was a trend of patient improvement, with 32/40 items displaying slopes indicating favorable trends. There was a consistent trend of decreasing PGA scores indicating an improvement in physician reported disease activity.

CONCLUSIONS: Participants on the aiSLE® MGMT program experienced improved QoL measures during the study. Comprehensive care management that includes input from both patients and providers may reflect improved patient outcomes important to payers.