Contemporaneous network analysis of symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
10.3760/cma.j.cn115682-20250603-02902
- VernacularTitle:系统性红斑狼疮患者症状的同期网络分析
- Author:
Shuyu HAN
1
;
Xingyu YANG
;
Shiyu PU
;
Yuguang SHANG
Author Information
1. 北京大学护理学院，北京 100191
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Systemic lupus erythematosus;
Symptom management;
Core symptoms;
Contemporaneous network
- From:
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing
2025;31(35):4834-4839
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To conduct a symptom network analysis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and identify core symptoms, in order to provide a foundation for the development of precision-based symptom management interventions.Methods:A convenience sampling method was used to recruit 420 SLE patients who received treatment at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between November 2022 and July 2023. The SLE Specific Symptom Checklist was administered to these patients. A contemporaneous symptom network was constructed using a Gaussian graphical model, and centrality measures including closeness centrality, betweenness centrality, and expected influence coefficient were calculated to determine the core symptoms within the network.Results:The most commonly reported symptoms among the 420 patients were fatigue (65.7%, 276/420), hair loss (59.8%, 251/420), photosensitivity (56.9%, 239/420), memory impairment (54.5%, 229/420), and facial swelling (52.1%, 219/420). In the symptom network analysis, the most central symptom was photosensitivity (closeness centrality=1.58; betweenness centrality=2.56; expected influence coefficient=1.06), followed by skin fragility (closeness centrality=1.00; betweenness centrality=0.43; expected influence coefficient=1.78), gastrointestinal discomfort (closeness centrality=1.30; betweenness centrality=1.14; expected influence coefficient=0.77), fatigue (closeness centrality=0.50; betweenness centrality=0.70; expected influence coefficient=1.61), and mood changes (closeness centrality=0.65; betweenness centrality=1.14; expected influence coefficient=0.89) .Conclusions:Among the various symptoms experienced by SLE patients, photosensitivity, skin fragility, gastrointestinal discomfort, fatigue, and mood changes emerged as core symptoms that influence and activate other symptoms in the network. Healthcare professionals should tailor symptom management strategies based on patients' self-reported symptom profiles, prioritize intervention targets, and work to reduce the overall symptom burden in individuals with SLE.
