[Mortality and prognostic factors in 146 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in southern Tunisia].

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to analyze the survival rate, causes of death, and prognostic factors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), mainly from southern Tunisia.

METHODS

This retrospective study examined the records of 146 Tunisian patients with SLE, all meeting at least 4 of the American College of Rheumatology criteria for this diagnosis.

RESULTS

The mean age at presentation of these patients (126 women and 20 men) was 29.2 years (range: 6-55), and the mean duration of follow up 62 months (range: 3 days-374 months). Eleven patients (7.5%) died during follow-up. The 5- and 10-year survival rates in this cohort were both 92.1%. The most frequent causes of death were infections and disease activity, each accounting for 4 deaths. Logistic regression showed that nephrotic syndrome was an independent prognostic factor for death (p=0.032, OR=5.64).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirmed the improvement in recent years of survival rates among SLE patients. Infections and disease activity remain the most common causes of death. Nephrotic syndrome is independent risk factor for mortality.