Objective Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune condition that can lead to death. To examine SLE as an underlying and contributing cause of mortality, CDC analyzed 2018–2023 mortality data for persons aged ≥15 years overall and by age, sex, race and ethnicity, and region. Methods Death certificate data for persons aged ≥15 years with any mention of SLE (ICD‐10 code M32) were analyzed using CDC WONDER. We calculated age‐adjusted death rates and assessed patterns by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and region. Underlying and contributing causes of death were evaluated using ranked cause‐of‐death lists and ICD sub‐chapters. Results During 2018–2023, 14,936 deaths had any mention of SLE listed on the death certificate. Of these deaths, 6,414 (42.9%) listed SLE as the underlying cause. The age‐adjusted SLE mortality rate per million population was greater among females (5.97) than males (1.16), non‐Hispanic African American persons (10.70) versus persons of other non‐Hispanic racial groups (range: 2.46 to 5.62), Hispanic versus non‐Hispanic persons (3.98 versus 3.59), and in the South (4.37) versus other regions. Where SLE was listed as a contributing cause of death, the leading underlying causes were heart disease (0.93), cancer (0.56), and COVID‐19 (0.51). The overall age‐adjusted SLE mortality rates were significantly higher in 2020 and 2021 versus all other study years indicating the likely impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on SLE mortality. Conclusion Overall management of SLE and co‐morbidities and infections in SLE patients, as well as interventions targeting groups (e.g., African American persons) disproportionately impacted by SLE, may reduce overall SLE mortality.
Dawson et al. (Mon,) studied this question.