Black women with lupus who experience racial discrimination have worse inflammation
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Key takeaways:
- Black women with lupus who experienced discrimination had elevated C-reactive protein levels.
- The study underscores the need to address systemic racism and promote health equity, researchers wrote.
Among Black women with lupus, those who experience racial discrimination demonstrate increased C-reactive protein and worse inflammation, according to data published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity.
“This study contributes to the growing body of evidence on the biological consequences of racial discrimination,” Tamika Webb-Detiege, MD, a rheumatologist at the University of Queensland and the Ochsner Clinical School, said in a press release from Ochsner. “Understanding how racial discrimination compromises health and inflammatory pathways is crucial in our pursuit of more equitable and just outcomes for our communities.”
To investigate the experiences of racial discrimination and changes in C-reactive protein among Black women with lupus, Webb-Detiege and colleagues analyzed data from the Black Women’s Experiences Living with Lupus (BeWELL) study, which enrolled patients from April 2015 to May 2017. Included patients had their C-reactive protein measured on an annual basis. Participants also completed a biannual questionnaire in which they disclosed experiences of racial discrimination.
The study included a total of 380 eligible participants. According to the researchers, experiences of racial discrimination were associated with increased C-reactive protein throughout the 2-year study period (b = 0.039, SE = 0.017; 95% CI, 0.006-0.071). Specifically, each incident of racial discrimination resulted in a 3.98% increase in C-reactive protein.
“The study’s findings provide valuable insights into the racial inequities observed in outcomes for Black women with diseases driven by inflammatory pathways,” the release said. “By highlighting the role of racial discrimination in exacerbating health disparities, this research underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and policies to address systemic racism and promote health equity.”
References:
Racial discrimination linked to increased inflammation among Black women with systemic lupus erythematosus, study finds. https://www.newswise.com/articles/racial-discrimination-linked-to-increased-inflammation-among-black-women-with-systemic-lupus-erythematosus-study-finds. Aug. 2023. Accessed Aug. 15, 2023.
Perspective
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It is an unfortunate reality that systemic lupus erythematosus predominately affects the African American community, with African American women experiencing more severe disease and poorer outcomes. Researchers have worked diligently to unravel this mystery, exploring genetic, environmental and physiologic factors unique to this population.
Setting aside the more traditional aspects of SLE, Martz and colleagues looked at the association of racial discrimination and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in African American women with SLE. The outcome of this 2-year study did indeed show that over time, CRP levels increase with incidents of racial discrimination.
Even though the statistical analysis was quite complicated and other causes of elevated CRP levels — such as infection or disease flare — were not included, this information sheds light on the mind-body connection in chronic illness and SLE in particular. Understanding the day-to-day struggles of African American women living with SLE will aid in developing creative strategies for disease management.
This study may also serve as a model for future endeavors looking at other populations that have a higher incidence of rheumatic disease, with the overall goal of decreasing disparities in health care and providing the highest quality care for everyone.
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