Hospitalizations Caused by Cardiovascular Events and Infections Present Serious Health Risks for People with Lupus
Newly published research shows that in-hospital mortality incidence is rare (2%) in people with lupus. Infections (particularly sepsis) and cardiovascular events (frequently heart attacks and hypertensive heart failure), were the top reasons for in-hospital mortality. Of note, lupus was the primary diagnosis in only a small percent (6%) of hospitalized cases, and the vast majority of both hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality were not directly related to lupus or rheumatological issues.
Researchers assessed nearly 181,000 hospital records from people with lupus using 2017 data from the National Inpatient Sample database. They found the top reasons for hospitalizations were related to:
- Cardiovascular (heart) events (16%)
- Rheumatological issues (13%)
- Infections (11%)
- Respiratory (breathing) problems (10%)
- Gastrointestinal (gut) issues (10%)
The study is the first to comprehensively analyze and categorize the reasons for hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality among people with lupus across the U.S.
Being proactive about managing your health is essential for living well with lupus, and finding the right support systems and resources can be hugely helpful. If you’re interested in learning more about what you can do to reduce your health risks and improve your quality of life, check out the Lupus Foundation of America’s Take Charge program, a 12-week email series to help you better manage lupus and its everyday challenges. Sign up for the Take Charge series here.