Table 2

Demographic, psychiatric, fatigue and biomarker characteristics across the participant groups

VariableSLE (n=36)HC (n=30)P value
Mean (SD), Median (LQ, UQ) or n (%)
Demographic
Age (years)40 (32, 48.75)32 (27, 46.5)P=0.14
Gender (% female)34 (94)30 (100)P=0.19
Handedness (% right-handed)30 (83)28 (93)P=0.34
Years in education16.11 (3.51)17.97 (3.40) P= 0.034
WTAR (IQ)102.5 (98.25, 108)111 (105, 114) p= 0.001
Ethnic originP=0.132
 Caucasian24 (66.7)24 (80)
 Black Caribbean4 (11.1)0
 Black African3 (8.3)0
 Indian1 (2.8)0
 Bangladeshi01 (3.3)
 Chinese1 (2.8)1 (3.3)
 Other3 (8.3)4 (13.3)
Depression
MADRS4 (1, 8)1 (0, 3) P= 0.012
HADS - D4 (1, 9)1 (0, 2) P< 0.001
BDI - II10 (4, 20.25)3 (0.75, 8) P= 0.002
Anxiety
HADS – A6 (3, 10.5)5 (2, 7)P=0.08
Fatigue
FSMC – Motor score36 (22, 40.5)14 (11.5, 18.5) P< 0.001
FSMC – Cognitive score31 (22, 40)14 (11.5, 18.5) P< 0.001
FSMC – total score67.5 (44.75, 80.5)27 (23, 37) P< 0.001
Biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial activation
hsCRP (mg/L)1 1.44 (0.66, 5.06)0.88 (0.39, 1.39) P= 0.013
IL-6 (pg/mL)1 1.67 (0.50, 5.33)0.50 (0.50, 1.32) P= 0.003
VCAM-1 (ng/mL)2 474.93 (194.30)345.66 (53.79) P= 0.001
VEGF (pg/mL)1 66.04 (13.93, 139.60)45.42 (6.04, 114.93)P=0.275
BLyS (ng/mL)1 0.51 (0.35, 0.71)0.34 (0.27, 0.39) P< 0.001
  • Missing data: WTAR not included for 3 HCs, and 4 SLEs, these participants’ first language was not English and/or they had dyslexia, as such it was felt that the scale would not accurately measure IQ in these participants. MADRS–5 SLE, 2 HC; FSMC–2 SLE, 1 HC hsCRP, IL-6, VEGF, BLyS-2 HC, 2 SLE; VCAM-1–2 SLE.

  • P-values in bold are significant at <0.05.

  • BDI-II, Becks Depression Inventory - II; BLyS, B lymphocyte stimulator; FSMC, Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions; HADS-A, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale–Anxiety score; HADS-D, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale–Depression score; IL-6, Interleukin 6; MADRS, Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale; VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor;WTAR, Weschler Test of Adult Reading; hsCRP, high sensitivity C reactive protein;.