Living With Lupus Nephritis: Elevated Impact on Patient Life
June 2024
TLDR Lupus nephritis patients face more challenges in family planning, work, symptoms, medication, and quality of life than those without it.
The study "Living with Lupus Nephritis: Elevated Impact on Patient Life" analyzed 4,375 responses from the "Living with Lupus in 2020" survey to compare the experiences of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with and without lupus nephritis (LN). It found that LN patients (782 participants) face a significantly higher burden in various life domains compared to non-LN patients (3,593 participants). Key differences include higher rates of childlessness (41% vs. 31%), greater career impact (74% vs. 66.1%), and more economic difficulties (22% vs. 16.4%). LN patients also reported more symptoms (10.2 vs. 8.4) and took more medications (6.0 vs. 5.0). Quality of life was lower for LN patients, with higher levels of fatigue, kidney issues, and joint pain. Overall, the study highlights the need for targeted education and management tools for LN patients.
