epidemiology
Last reviewed 08/2021
Some data concerning the epidemiology of SLE is given below:
- overall prevalence is 12.5-78.5 cases per 100,000 population in Europe and the USA (1)
- a study from Birmingham, UK has estimated the prevalence to be 27.7/100,000 in the general population (2)
- SLE is more common in women than men:
- the ratio is 10:1 in the age range 18 to 65 yr
- the ratio is 2:1 in the young and elderly
- men tend to have less photosensitivity, more serositis, an older age at diagnosis, and a higher 1 year mortality compared to women
- in UK, it is 2.5 times more common in South Asian and 5-6 times more common in Afro-Caribbean individuals (1):
- prevalence in white females age 18 to 65 yr is 1 per 1000 whilst in black females of similar age is 1 per 250
- in addition, a marked ethnic variation in organ involvement is seen as well e.g. -in Afro-Caribbean patients there is an increased risk of renal disease while antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is less common when compared with Caucasians (1)
- usual age of onset is 16 to 55 years (65% of patients) while 20% present before age of 16, and 15% after the age of 55 (3)
- exacerbations may occur during pregnancy and menstruation
- there may be a past history of spontaneous abortion and thrombosis, the antiphospholipid syndrome
Reference:
- (1) Arthritis Research UK. Reports on Rheumatic Diseases. Topical Reviews No 2, spring 2013. Overview of management of systemic lupus erythematosus.
- (2) Manson JJ, Rahman A. Systemic lupus erythematosus. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2006 Mar;1:6.
- (3) EULAR Textbook on Rheumatic Diseases. Chapter 20. Systemic Lupus Erythematosu: Pathogenesis and clinical features