Survival in systemic lupus erythematosus. A multivariate analysis of demographic factors.

We analyzed survival rate and important clinical outcomes in 411 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who were seen at our center between 1969 and 1984. All eligible subjects met 4 of the revised American Rheumatism Association criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus and all were seen within 2 years of diagnosis. Mean followup was 75.6 months. Multivariate analysis suggested significant independent effects of race (P = 0.0139) and socioeconomic status (P = 0.0326) on survival. No evidence of diminished lupus-related mortality with age was documented. Previously reported findings of improved survival rate with age may have been confounded by differences in race distribution between the younger- and older-onset groups.