TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors and outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) admission rates in a large teaching hospital in sub-Saharan Africa
AU - Dzifa, D.
AU - Boima, V.
AU - Yorke, E.
AU - Yawson, A.
AU - Ganu, V.
AU - Mate-Kole, C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.
PY - 2018/2/1
Y1 - 2018/2/1
N2 - Although it was previously believed that systemic lupus erythematosus was uncommon among Africans, it has become increasingly apparent that the incidence is higher, and socioeconomic challenges such as physician shortages, poor medical facility access, and poor health literacy may worsen prognosis. This retrospective study examines characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized systemic lupus erythematosus patients over a two-year period and serves as a baseline for comparison for future studies to examine the outcomes with the provision of more dedicated care. There were 51 patient admissions over a two-year period, with a mean duration from start of illness to admission of approximately two years. Duration of admission ranged from one to 140 days with a mean period of 26.12 days (SD ± 26.6). There were 22 deaths (43.1% of admissions), which were mainly due to infections and renal complications. Factors associated with risk of death in regression analysis were: infections, fever, disease flare, musculoskeletal involvement, amenorrhea, depression, a clinical finding of hepatomegaly, and chest infection. Understanding the effect and outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus across different countries can elucidate the role of genetic, environmental, and other causative factors in the progression of the disease.
AB - Although it was previously believed that systemic lupus erythematosus was uncommon among Africans, it has become increasingly apparent that the incidence is higher, and socioeconomic challenges such as physician shortages, poor medical facility access, and poor health literacy may worsen prognosis. This retrospective study examines characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized systemic lupus erythematosus patients over a two-year period and serves as a baseline for comparison for future studies to examine the outcomes with the provision of more dedicated care. There were 51 patient admissions over a two-year period, with a mean duration from start of illness to admission of approximately two years. Duration of admission ranged from one to 140 days with a mean period of 26.12 days (SD ± 26.6). There were 22 deaths (43.1% of admissions), which were mainly due to infections and renal complications. Factors associated with risk of death in regression analysis were: infections, fever, disease flare, musculoskeletal involvement, amenorrhea, depression, a clinical finding of hepatomegaly, and chest infection. Understanding the effect and outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus across different countries can elucidate the role of genetic, environmental, and other causative factors in the progression of the disease.
KW - Africa
KW - Systemic lupus erythematosus
KW - hospitalization
KW - infections
KW - mortality
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85039748663&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0961203317742710
DO - 10.1177/0961203317742710
M3 - Article
C2 - 29173007
AN - SCOPUS:85039748663
SN - 0961-2033
VL - 27
SP - 336
EP - 342
JO - Lupus
JF - Lupus
IS - 2
ER -