Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Over 80 Years of Age: A Retrospective Cohort of Very Late-Onset in a Third Level Hospital
May 2023
TLDR Older men with late-onset lupus have a higher mortality rate than women.
This retrospective cohort study examined 31 patients diagnosed with late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) after the age of 80 at the Hospital de León from 1997-2022. The cohort was predominantly female (2.1:1 ratio), with a mean diagnosis age of 84.32 years. Common clinical manifestations included arthritis, inflammatory arthralgia (48.4%), and dermatological involvement (45.1%). The average survival time was 4.5 years, with women having a significantly longer survival (7 years) compared to men (3.4 years). The main cause of death was infections, and male patients had a higher mortality rate (70%). The study highlights the need for further research to understand SLE in this age group and the factors contributing to higher male mortality.
