Characteristics | Overall (N = 300) | Midwest (N = 60) | Northeast (N = 60) | North (N = 60) | Southeast (N = 60) | South (N = 60) | p-value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age, mean (SD) | 41.9 (12.8) | 41.1 (12.5) | 40.5 (10.8) | 37.2 (11.5) | 43.5 (14.5) | 47.1 (12.4) | < 0.001 |
Female, n (%) | 277 (92.3) | 54 (90.0) | 58 (98.3) | 56 (93.3) | 54 (90.0) | 54 (90.0) | |
Race/color, n (%)* | < 0.001 | ||||||
White | 76 (25.3) | 10 (16.7) | 10 (16.7) | 5 (8.3) | 16 (26.7) | 35 (58.3) | |
Black | 56 (18.7) | 19 (31.7) | 4 (6.7) | 1 (1.7) | 19 (31.7) | 13 (21.7) | |
Others | 7 (2.3) | 2 (3.3) | 1 (1.7) | 1 (1.7) | 2 (3.3) | 1 (1.7) | |
Multiracial | 161 (53.7) | 29 (48.3) | 45 (75.0) | 53 (88.3) | 23 (38.3) | 11 (18.3) | |
Employment, n (%) | 0.020 | ||||||
Active | 79 (26.3) | 15 (25.0) | 17 (28.3) | 11 (18.3) | 20 (33.3) | 16 (26.7) | |
Retired or sick leave due to SLE | 100 (33.3) | 17 (28.3) | 12 (20.0) | 25 (41.7) | 22 (36.7) | 24 (40.0) | |
Unemployed | 65 (21.7) | 17 (28.3) | 10 (16.7) | 16 (26.7) | 12 (20.0) | 10 (16.7) | |
Others | 56 (18.7) | 11 (18.3) | 21 (35.0) | 8 (13.3) | 6 (10.0) | 10 (16.7) | |
Marital status, n (%) | 0.398 | ||||||
Married or in a stable union | 147 (49.0) | 33 (55.0) | 32 (53.3) | 29 (48.3) | 25 (41.7) | 28 (46.7) | |
Single | 106 (35.3) | 20 (33.3) | 24 (40.0) | 20 (33.3) | 23 (38.3) | 19 (31.7) | |
Others | 47 (15.7) | 7 (11.7) | 4 (6.7) | 11 (18.3) | 12 (20.0) | 13 (21.7) | |
Access to care and patient journey | |||||||
Time between the first symptoms and confirmation of the disease, years, mean (SD) | 2.02 (3.70) | 1.58 (2.75) | 2.63 (3.85) | 1.18 (1.87) | 1.94 (2.96) | 2.83 (5.91) | 0.091 |
Time between onset of symptoms and start of treatment, months, mean (SD) | 21.6 (39.6) | 16.4 (28.2) | 26.0 (35.2) | 16.9 (30.2) | 17.6 (24.7) | 31.4 (65.6) | 0.158 |
Travel time from home to facility, hours, mean (SD) | 4.4 (12.6) | 3.52 (4.3) | 1.7 (1.3) | 11.5 (25.4) | 3.7 (8.3) | 1.80 (1.7) | < 0.001 |
Missing medical appointments due to any reason, study period, mean (SD) | 0.72 (1.3) | 0.46 (10.9) | 0.35 (0.9) | 0.7 (1.1) | 1.7 (1.8) | 0.3 (0.8) | < 0.001 |
Number of medications per day, mean (SD) | 6.59 (3.9) | 3.92 (2.5) | 6.0 (2.7) | 6.2 (2.4) | 8.5 (3.7) | 8.3 (5.3) | < 0.001 |
Time between confirmation of the disease and the first visit to the rheumatologist, mean (SD) | 7.00 (17.10) | 8.52 (20.4) | 7.92 (18.0) | 4.39 (14.2) | 10.12 (20.0) | 3.97 (10.4) | 0.213 |
Hospitalization, n (%) | 43 (14.3) | 4 (6.7) | 12 (20.0) | 5 (8.3) | 8 (13.3) | 14 (23.3) | 0.037 |
Emergency unit visit, n (%) | 84 (28.0) | 15 (25.0) | 14 (23.3) | 18 (30.0) | 21 (35.0) | 16 (26.7) | 0.636 |
Schooling | |||||||
Stopped school education due to SLE, n (%) | 46 (15.3) | 9 (15.0) | 6 (10.0) | 15 (25.0) | 7 (11.7) | 9 (15.0) | 0.047 |
Years of schooling, years, mean (SD) | 11.37 (4.65) | 10.55 (3.42) | 11.17 (4.74) | 14.20 (3.64) | 11.87 (5.59) | 9.05 (4.06) | < 0.001 |
Income status related to disease | |||||||
Total household income, mean (SD), Brazilian currency | 2656.03 (2121.94) | 2463.60 (1608.02) | 2220.78 (1626.55) | 2697.15 (2083.41) | 3160.07 (3068.51) | 2717.63 (1793.36) | 0.173 |
Loss of working days in the last 12 months, n (%) | 67 (22.3) | 15 (25.0) | 16 (26.7) | 7 (11.7) | 13 (21.7) | 16 (26.7) | 0.24 |
Salary discount in the last 12 months due to SLE, n (%) | 24 (8.0) | 3 (5.0) | 4 (6.7) | 3 (5.0) | 5 (8.3) | 9 (15.0) | 0.23 |
Performs paid work, n (%) | 83 (27.7) | 15 (25.0) | 18 (30.0) | 12 (20.0) | 21 (35.0) | 17 (28.3) | 0.439 |
Loss of productivity related to activities of daily living, mean (SD) | 5.17 (3.61) | 6.22 (3.55) | 5.40 (3.57) | 4.87 (3.44) | 4.48 (3.76) | 4.90 (3.59) | 0.083 |
Contemplated by government program due to SLE, n (%) | 52 (17.3) | 14 (23.3) | 13 (21.7) | 12 (20.0) | 7 (11.7) | 6 (10.0) | 0.186 |
Clinical and treatment variables | |||||||
SLE Classification Criteria (ACR, 1997), n (%) | |||||||
Malar rash | 166 (55.3) | 21 (35.0) | 36 (60.0) | 49 (81.7) | 25 (41.7) | 35 (58.3) | < 0.001 |
Discoid rash | 58 (19.3) | 11 (18.3) | 13 (21.7) | 14 (23.3) | 15 (25.0) | 5 (8.3) | 0.149 |
Photosensitivity | 180 (60.0) | 19 (31.7) | 42 (70.0) | 53 (88.3) | 27 (45.0) | 39 (65.0) | < 0.001 |
Oral ulcers | 71 (23.7) | 9 (15.0) | 13 (21.7) | 14 (23.3) | 17 (28.3) | 18 (30.0) | 0.321 |
Nonerosive arthritis | 221 (73.7) | 24 (40.0) | 52 (86.7) | 53 (88.3) | 48 (80.0) | 44 (73.3) | < 0.001 |
Pleuritis or Pericarditis | 65 (21.7) | 3 (5.0) | 14 (23.3) | 17 (28.3) | 16 (26.7) | 15 (25.0) | 0.012 |
Renal disorder | 141 (47.0) | 16 (26.7) | 23 (38.3) | 42 (70.0) | 30 (50.0) | 30 (50.0) | < 0.001 |
Neurologic Disorder | 33 (11.0) | 3 (5.0) | 6 (10.0) | 8 (13.3) | 10 (16.7) | 6 (10.0) | 0.327 |
Hematologic disorder | 140 (46.7) | 11 (18.3) | 36 (60.0) | 23 (38.3) | 32 (53.3) | 38 (63.3) | < 0.001 |
Immunologic disorder | 190 (63.3) | 35 (58.3) | 40 (66.7) | 32 (53.3) | 35 (58.3) | 48 (80.0) | 0.023 |
Positive Antinuclear Antibody | 208 (69.3) | 26 (43.3) | 57 (95.0) | 60 (100.0) | 57 (95.0) | 58 (96.7) | < 0.001 |
Multiple morbidities, n (%) | |||||||
Hypertension | 156 (52.0) | 28 (46.7) | 23 (38.3) | 43 (71.7) | 30 (50.0) | 32 (53.3) | 0.006 |
Obesity | 56 (18.7) | 6 (10.0) | 12 (20.0) | 7 (11.7) | 16 (26.7) | 15 (25.0) | 0.059 |
Smoking | 30 (10.0) | 9 (15.0) | 2 (3.3) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (8.3) | 14 (23.3) | < 0.001 |
Alcoholism | 21 (7.0) | 9 (15.0) | 1 (1.7) | 0 (0.0) | 7 (11.7) | 4 (6.7) | 0.002 |
History of tuberculosis | 27 (9.0) | 1 (1.7) | 3 (5.0) | 5 (8.3) | 12 (20.0) | 6 (10.0) | 0.007 |
Damage accrual– SDI, n (%) | 1.42 (1.7) | 0.75 (1.0) | 1.53 (1.7) | 1.22 (1.5) | 2.62 (2.2) | 1.00 (1.1) | < 0.001 |
SLEDAI score, mean (SD) | 4.33 (5.4) | 4.48 (6.1) | 2.57 (4.2) | 5.05 (4.8) | 6.43 (6.3) | 3.13 (4.4) | < 0.001 |
Health-related quality of life (SF-12), mean (SD) | |||||||
Physical component | 37.8 (10.2) | 37.6 (9.8) | 37.9 (10.0) | 37.5 (10.5) | 38.4 (9.9) | 37.8 (10.9) | 0.99 |
Mental component | 40.2 (11.2) | 41.3 (11.6) | 41.6 (10.2) | 39.8 (10.8) | 38.3 (11.2) | 40.1 (12.3) | 0.514 |
General medicines used during the study period, n (%) | |||||||
Folic acid | 58 (19.3) | 11 (18.3) | 22 (36.7) | 10 (16.7) | 9 (15.0) | 6 (10.0) | 0.003 |
Antiplatelet aggregant or anticoagulant | 73 (24.3) | 3 (5.0) | 19 (31.7) | 16 (26.7) | 21 (35.0) | 14 (23.3) | 0.001 |
Drug for delipidemia | 81 (27.0) | 6 (10.0) | 17 (28.3) | 22 (36.7) | 21 (35.0) | 15 (25.0) | 0.005 |
Diabetes medication | 16 (5.3) | 1 (1.7) | 7 (11.7) | 2 (3.3) | 5 (8.3) | 1 (1.7) | 0.05 |
Antihypertensive | 173 (57.7) | 19 (31.7) | 30 (50.0) | 45 (75.0) | 37 (61.7) | 42 (70.0) | < 0.001 |
Antimalarial | 202 (67.3) | 24 (40.0) | 35 (58.3) | 38 (63.3) | 52 (86.7) | 53 (88.3) | < 0.001 |
Antimicrobial | 41 (13.7) | 1 (1.7) | 16 (26.7) | 15 (25.0) | 4 (6.7) | 5 (8.3) | < 0.001 |
Calcium or vitamin D or anti-osteoporosis medication | 175 (58.3) | 7 (11.7) | 42 (70.0) | 48 (80.0) | 46 (76.7) | 32 (53.3) | < 0.001 |
Anti-digitalis | 76 (25.3) | 10 (16.7) | 14 (23.3) | 20 (33.3) | 15 (25.0) | 17 (28.3) | 0.305 |
Corticoid | 200 (66.7) | 34 (56.7) | 50 (83.3) | 58 (96.7) | 38 (63.3) | 20 (33.3) | < 0.001 |
Gastrointestinal medicine | 88 (29.3) | 3 (5.0) | 19 (31.7) | 25 (41.7) | 16 (26.7) | 25 (41.7) | < 0.001 |
Thyroid hormone | 29 (9.7) | 3 (5.0) | 10 (16.7) | 4 (6.7) | 4 (6.7) | 8 (13.3) | 0.159 |
Sunscreen | 19 (6.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 15 (25.0) | 4 (6.7) | < 0.001 |
Psychotropic or antidepressant or anticonvulsant | 101 (33.7) | 8 (13.3) | 28 (46.7) | 18 (30.0) | 16 (26.7) | 31 (51.7) | < 0.001 |
Immunobiological | 22 (7.3) | 9 (15.0) | 6 (10.0) | 2 (3.3) | 3 (5.0) | 2 (3.3) | 0.058 |
Immunosuppressant | 213 (71.0) | 28 (46.7) | 44 (73.3) | 47 (78.3) | 50 (83.3) | 44 (73.3) | < 0.001 |
Immunosuppressors or biological medicines most used, n (%) | |||||||
Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine | 222 (74.0) | 33 (55.0) | 42 (70.0) | 39 (65.0) | 53 (88.3) | 55 (91.7) | < 0.001 |
Mycophenolate mofetil | 90 (30.0) | 2 (3.3) | 15 (25.0) | 27 (45.0) | 29 (48.3) | 17 (28.3) | < 0.001 |
Azathioprine | 77 (25.7) | 12 (20.0) | 12 (20.0) | 15 (25.0) | 15 (25.0) | 23 (38.3) | 0.131 |
Methotrexate | 48 (16.0) | 12 (20.0) | 17 (28.3) | 5 (8.3) | 7 (11.7) | 7 (11.7) | 0.019 |
Cyclophosphamide | 27 (9.0) | 7 (11.7) | 2 (3.3) | 11 (18.3) | 4 (6.7) | 3 (5.0) | 0.029 |
Cyclosporine | 6 (2.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (3.3) | 4 (6.7) | 0 (0.0) | 0.025 |
Rituximab | 11 (3.7) | 1 (1.7) | 4 (6.7) | 3 (5.0) | 2 (3.3) | 1 (1.7) | 0.648 |
Belimumab | 13 (4.3) | 11 (18.3) | 2 (3.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | < 0.001 |
Tacrolimus | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.7) | 0 (0.0) | 1.000 |