Disease activity and health-care utilization among young adults with childhood-onset lupus transitioning to adult care: data from the Pediatric Lupus Outcomes Study.

BACKGROUND

Individuals with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) must transfer from pediatric to adult care. The goal of this study was to examine disease activity and health-care utilization among young adults with cSLE who are undergoing or have recently completed the transfer to adult care.

METHODS

The Pediatric Lupus Outcomes Study (PLOS) is a prospective longitudinal cohort study of young adults aged 18-30 diagnosed with cSLE. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis comparing 47 participants under the care of pediatric rheumatologists to 38 who had completed transfer to adult care. Demographics, disease manifestations, health- care utilization and transition readiness were compared between groups.

RESULTS

Those in the post-transfer group had significantly lower medication usage and were less likely to have seen a rheumatologist in the past year. Disease manifestations, flare rates, and hospitalizations were similar between groups. Nearly a quarter of patients who had transferred to adult care reported difficulties with the process.

CONCLUSION

Post-transfer patients had lower health-care utilization as evidenced by less medication usage and lack of rheumatology follow-up, in spite of the fact that disease activity was similar in both groups. Future studies will assess longitudinal changes in disease activity and damage in this population.