Kernder A, Düsing C, Richter J, et al. - In employed patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a detrimental effect of fatigue, pain, disease activity and health-related quality of life on work productivity and daily activities was evident, with a synergistic impact of fatigue, disease activity and pain.

• A longitudinal patient-reported study (LuLa study) of 259 employed patients with SLE, to determine factors related to impaired work productivity as well as impaired daily activities in SLE cases.

• The median impairment in work productivity (WPAI 2) and median impairment in daily activities (WPAI 4) was 20% (Q1–3 0–40) and 30% (Q1–3 10–50%), respectively.

• Participants frequently complained of impaired work productivity and impaired daily activities.

• For patients experiencing fatigue, active participation in life can be preserved with two critical steps: optimized pain management and targeted immunomodulatory therapy.