Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic U.S. cohort (LUMINA) XXVII: factors predictive of a decline to low levels of disease activity.
The objective of this study was to examine factors predictive of a decline to low levels of disease activity in a cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Patients with SLE of Hispanic (from Texas or Puerto Rico), African-American or Caucasian ethnicity from a multiethnic cohort were included. A decline to low levels of disease activity was defined as a score < or =5 as per the Systemic Lupus Activity Measure-Revised (SLAM-R) at any annual study visit if preceded by a SLAM-R > or =8. Using Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE), socioeconomic-demographic, behavioral, function, psychological, laboratory and clinical data [disease manifestations, number of ACR criteria accrued at diagnosis and damage accrual as per the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) Damage Index (SDI)] from the visit preceding that meeting the definition were examined as predictors of decline to low levels of disease activity. Two-hundred and eighty-seven patients (67 Hispanics from Texas, 32 Hispanics form Puerto Rico, 120 African-Americans and 68 Caucasians), accounting for 632 visits were analyzed. In the GEE multivariable analysis, higher degrees of social support (OR = 1.208, 95% CI 1.059-1.379; P = 0.005) were predictive of a decline to low levels of disease activity, while the number of ACR criteria accrued at diagnosis (OR = 0.765, 95% CI 0.631-0.927; P = 0.006) and damage (OR = 0.850, 95% CI 0.743-0.972, P = 0.018) were negatively associated. These data suggest that a decline to low levels of disease activity in lupus patients seems to be multifactorial; this study also underscores the importance of social support for lupus patients.
Bertoli
A M
AM
Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Alarcón
G S
GS
McGwin
G
G
Fernández
M
M
Bastian
H M
HM
Fessler
B J
BJ
Vilá
L M
LM
Reveille
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People