LUPUS erythematosus mobile apps may help support disease management, but few publicly available tools meet patient-centered criteria, according to a systematic search and cross-sectional evaluation by patients and physicians.
Lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease with substantial effects on quality of life. In cutaneous lupus erythematosus, photosensitivity can trigger rashes, flares, and pain, limiting daily activity and sun exposure. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), joint pain, fatigue, and organ involvement can further impair physical function and emotional well-being. Against this backdrop, mobile health apps have been proposed as a practical way to support symptom tracking, education, and day-to-day disease management.
Few Apps Met Inclusion Criteria
Investigators searched the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for German or English mobile health apps designed for patients with lupus. Two independent reviewers identified 29 apps in the Apple Store and 26 in the Google Store, with 18 apps available and downloadable on both platforms.
However, 16 of the 18 apps were excluded because they did not meet the study’s inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only Lupus Log and Lupus Minder met all required criteria and were included in the formal evaluation.
The two apps were then assessed by seven physicians using the German Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and System Usability Scale (SUS). Five patients, including three with SLE and two with cutaneous lupus erythematosus, reviewed the apps using the user version of MARS and SUS. The Affinity for Technology Interaction scale was also collected to assess technical affinity in both groups.
Patient-Centered Lupus Erythematosus Mobile Apps Rated Favorably
Quality ratings showed broad variability between physicians, with mean MARS scores ranging from 2.61 out of 5 to 4.17 out of 5, and mean SUS scores ranging from 17.5 out of 100 to 100 out of 100.
Lupus Log received the highest mean overall physician MARS score, averaging 3.91 out of 5. Patients gave the same app a comparable mean uMARS score of 3.95 out of 5. Technical affinity was higher among patients than physicians, with Affinity for Technology Interaction scores of 3.9 versus 3.68.
The findings suggest that high-quality patient-centered lupus erythematosus mobile apps are available, although the current marketplace remains narrow. For clinicians, the results highlight both the potential of mHealth tools in lupus management and the need for careful appraisal before recommending apps to patients.
Reference
Dege T et al. Patient-Centered Lupus Erythematosus Mobile Apps: Systematic Search and Cross-Sectional Evaluation by Patients and Physicians. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2026;14:e73019.
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