Largest, Most-Racially Diverse Study on Lupus Activity and Survival

Over the past four decades, advances in science have increased the 5-year survival rate for people diagnosed with lupus to 95% and this rate is similar for 10-year survival. Research has historically linked lupus disease activity and organ damage with overall prognosis and survival rates.

To date, research on this association has included lower percentages of African-American participants. A new study introduces insights from the largest, most racially-diverse group of participants, featuring 1,168 patients from the Hopkins Lupus Cohort, 39.4% of whom are of Black African Ancestry.

Researchers found that with each one-unit increase in a person’s Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-SLE Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) score, there was an increased risk of death or developing renal or cardiovascular damage over a 12-month period. Over 7 years, the study found that stable, mild-to-moderate disease activity may progress to irreversible organ system damage.

Participants who engaged in chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) were also found to be significantly more likely to experience risk of cardiovascular damage.

This research supports previous findings and the need to actively monitor disease activity and limit the use of NSAIDs. Playing an active role in your care by tracking your symptoms, like through this symptom tracker, and sharing the information during doctor’s visits can help your care team better track your disease activity and evaluate your ongoing care.

Read the study