Avaliação do estado nutricional e da ingestão alimentar de pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico atendidas no serviço de reumatologia do Hospital das Clínicas/UFMG

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic disease ofunknown etiology. Obesity increases inflammation and its effect on symptoms and functional capacity in patients with chronic inflammation diseases, as SLE, is unknown. Therefore, it was the objective of the present study to assess the nutritional status and the food intake of patients with SLE under treatment, at the Service of Rheumatology of Clinics Hospital/ Federal University of Minas Gerais. Thus, 126women with ages between 18 and 60 years were assessed. Nutritional status was assessed by subjective global assessment, body mass index and bioelectrical impedance. The International Diabetes Federation criteria were used for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for physical activity assessment. Food intake was assessed by the 24-hour recall, the food frequency questionnaire and the three day self-registration diary.Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, with level of significance of 5% (p<0,05). High prevalence of excess weight was seeb ub (BMI25kg/m2) 65,9%, increased body fat mass in 25,6% and metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 37,8% of the patients. Only 16,8% of the patients were classified as physical active. Excess weight was significantly associated with older age, older age at diagnosis, increasedlength of time under treatment and decreased number of school years . Age at diagnosis, level of education and plasma glucose were the variables independently associated with excess weight. The majority of the patients presented food intake under the estimated energy requirements and calcium was the nutrient with the highest inadequate intake. Low intake of fruits, vegetables and dairy products as wellas high intake of fats were depicted by the food frequency questionnaire. The current results reinforce the need to encourage healthy eating habits and the practice of physical activity in SLE patients.