title: The global burden of SLE: prevalence, health disparities and socioeconomic impact.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease that can potentially lead to serious organ complications and even death. Its global burden - in terms of incidence and prevalence, differential impact on populations, economic costs and capacity to compromise health-related quality of life - remains incompletely understood. The reported worldwide incidence and prevalence of SLE vary considerably; this variation is probably attributable to a variety of factors, including ethnic and geographic differences in the populations being studied, the definition of SLE applied, and the methods of case identification. Despite the heterogeneous nature of the disease, distinct patterns of disease presentation, severity and course can often be related to differences in ethnicity, income level, education, health insurance status, level of social support and medication compliance, as well as environmental and occupational factors. Given the potential for the disease to cause such severe and widespread organ damage, not only are the attendant direct costs high, but these costs are sometimes exceeded by indirect costs owing to loss of economic productivity. As an intangible cost, patients with SLE are, not surprisingly, likely to endure considerably reduced health-related quality of life.
authors: University of Calgary, Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, 1820 Richmond Road S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2T 5C7, Canada.
authors: Erin E
authors: EE
authors: Carter
authors: University of Calgary, Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, 1820 Richmond Road S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2T 5C7, Canada.
authors: Susan G
authors: SG
authors: Barr
authors: University of Calgary, Health Research Innovation Centre, 3280 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors: Ann E
authors: AE
authors: Clarke
mesh_terms: D017281:Cost of Illness; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index