Population-based cohort analysis reveals stark racial disparities in systemic lupus erythematosus mortality, highlighting earlier death and persistent risk among Black individuals.
Key Points
To evaluate premature mortality and racial disparities among individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using population-based registry data linked to national death records.
Analyzed incident and prevalent SLE cases diagnosed between 2002 and 2004 from the population-based Georgia Lupus Registry.
Linked patient registry records to the National Death Index through 2016 to capture all-cause mortality.
Calculated standardized mortality ratios adjusted for age group, sex, and race relative to expected deaths in the general population.
Matching identified 97 deaths among incident cases and 401 deaths among prevalent cases, with standardized mortality ratios 2 to 3 times higher in SLE patients than in the general population.
Black patients experienced significantly higher cumulative mortality and died at a significantly younger mean age compared with white patients (51.8 vs. 64.4 years for incident cases; 52.3 vs. 65.0 years for prevalent cases).
Mortality remained persistently elevated in Black patients immediately from diagnosis, whereas incident mortality among white patients was not observed until 5 years post-diagnosis.