Unfortunately, there are a number of racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare which position certain groups for poorer outcomes. For example, Black individuals often have lesser access to adequate medical care, even when they have comparable insurance, income, age, or diseases. Creating a more equitable healthcare system in the future is crucial to combat these disparities. According to the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC), another disparity exists in the treatment and outcomes of pediatric-onset lupus. 

Interested in reading the full study findings? Take a look at the data in Arthritis & Rheumatology. 

What is Lupus?

Systemic lupus erythematosos, or lupus, is an autoimmune disorder which occurs when the body mistakenly attacks its own tissues and organs. Researchers believe an environmental trigger, such as sun exposure or infections, can trigger lupus. Additional risk factors include being female, being 15-45 years old, or being of Hispanic, Asian-American, or African-American descent. Because lupus is a variable condition, there is no way to determine how it might progress. Some patients may experience mild and temporary symptoms, while others experience constant and severe symptoms. Common symptoms and characteristics include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Confusion and/or memory loss
• Dry eyes
• A butterfly-shaped rash in the center of the face (as well as other bodily rashes)
• Joint pain
• Raynaud’s phenomenon
• Shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Skin lesions which worsen with sun exposure
• Organ damage
• Heightened risk of pregnancy complications, infection, and cancer

About the Study

Within the study, researchers wanted to understand how more recent therapeutic options have altered outcomes for those with pediatric lupus. To begin, the researchers sourced data from 7,434 patients over a 13-year period. Of these, 32% (2,379 patients) were Black; 16% (1,189 patients) were White Hispanics; and 12% (892 patients) were non-white Hispanics. Findings included:

• Hospital admissions related to lupus slightly decreased over the 13-year period. 
• Adverse renal outcomes linked to lupus had also decreased over the study period. 
• Children of Black or Asian descent were at the most risk of poor renal outcomes, with Black children having the overall worst outcomes. Black children were also the most likely to develop end-stage renal disease associated with their lupus. 

 The researchers acknowledge that this is a problem because, despite new therapies and somewhat more access, these children are not benefiting from the treatments at a similar rate to those of other ethnic backgrounds. Therefore, for actionable future change, scientists and researchers should work to determine where and how these health inequities are being perpetuated, and how they can be improved for better patient outcomes.