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Several risk factors associated with damage progression identified in patients with SLE
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Results recently published in The Journal of Rheumatology identified multiple risk factors, some of which are modifiable, associated with damage progression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Researchers assessed the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index (SDI) and the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36 for 273 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Overall, 87.2% of patients were female. Using multivariate Cox regression, researchers examined the prognostic significance of demographic, disease-related and treatment-related factors on damage progression, while linear mixed-effects modeling was used to assess the effect of changes in SDI scores on health-related quality of life, measured using the SF-36 summary and subscale scores.
Overall, results showed 46.2% of patients had an increase in SDI scores during follow-up. Researchers found earlier damage progression in patients with pre-existing damage at baseline. According to results of a multivariable analysis, older age, an ACR classification criteria 8 or higher, immunosuppressive drugs, cigarette smoking and higher mean serum C-reactive protein levels were associated with initial declines in SF-36 scores at the time that damage occurred. Results also showed the subsequent change in SDI scores was similar to that seen in patients without damage progression. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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