To understand the effects of lupus, we first need to know what it is.  Lupus is a autoimmune illness which has no cure and depending on what type of lupus one has this illness can cause internal damage to the organs. 

 Lupus facts and statistics

How common is lupus and who does it affect?

• The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 1.5 million Americans, and at least five million people worldwide, have a form of lupus.
• Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age. However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus, too.
• Ninety percent (90%) of people living with lupus are women. Most people with lupus develop the disease between the ages of 15-44.[1]
• People with lupus can experience significant symptoms, such as pain, extreme fatigue, hair loss, cognitive issues, and physical impairments that affect every facet of their lives. Many suffer from cardiovascular disease, strokes, disfiguring rashes, and painful joints. For others, there may be no visible symptoms.
• Our best estimate based on available data on incidence is 16,000 new cases per year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are currently gathering updated data for all ethnic sub-populations in the US, so we anticipate this number will change. The fact remains that lupus is a devastating and life-changing disease that currently has no cure.

9 out of 10 adults with lupus are women 

 1 in 3 lupus patients suffer from multiple autoimmune diseases

What are the 4 different forms of lupus?

• Systemic lupus accounts for approximately 70 percent of all cases of lupus. In approximately half of these cases, a major organ or tissue in the body, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, or brain will be affected.
• Cutaneous lupus (affecting only the skin) accounts for approximately 10 percent of all lupus cases.
• Drug-induced lupus accounts for about 10 percent of all lupus cases and is caused by high doses of certain medications. The symptoms of drug induced lupus are similar to systemic lupus; however, symptoms usually subside when the medications are discontinued.
• Neonatal lupus is a rare condition in which the mother's antibodies affect the fetus. At birth, the baby may have a skin rash, liver problems, or low blood cell counts, but these symptoms typically disappear completely after six months with no lasting effects.

What is the impact of health disparities on people with lupus?

Lupus is two to three times more prevalent among African American, Hispanic/Latina, Asian American, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander women than among White women. Recent research indicates that lupus affects 1 in 537 young African American women.

The groundbreaking LUMINA (Lupus in Minority Populations: Nature vs. Nurture) study reported that African American lupus patients are more likely to have organ system involvement, more active disease, and lower levels of social support compared with White lupus patients.

A 2014 study found that women from racial and ethnic minority groups tend to develop lupus at a younger age, experience more serious complications, and have higher mortality rates.

Lupus News (2023) states What are the 4 different forms of lupus?

• Systemic lupus accounts for approximately 70 percent of all cases of lupus. In approximately half of these cases, a major organ or tissue in the body, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, or brain will be affected.
• Cutaneous lupus (affecting only the skin) accounts for approximately 10 percent of all lupus cases.
• Drug-induced lupus accounts for about 10 percent of all lupus cases and is caused by high doses of certain medications. The symptoms of drug induced lupus are similar to systemic lupus; however, symptoms usually subside when the medications are discontinued.
• Neonatal lupus is a rare condition in which the mother's antibodies affect the fetus. At birth, the baby may have a skin rash, liver problems, or low blood cell counts, but these symptoms typically disappear completely after six months with no lasting effects.

What is the impact of health disparities on people with lupus?

Lupus is two to three times more prevalent among African American, Hispanic/Latina, Asian American, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander women than among White women. Recent research indicates that lupus affects 1 in 537 young African American women.

The groundbreaking LUMINA (Lupus in Minority Populations: Nature vs. Nurture) study reported that African American lupus patients are more likely to have organ system involvement, more active disease, and lower levels of social support compared with White lupus patients.

A 2014 study found that women from racial and ethnic minority groups tend to develop lupus at a younger age, experience more serious complications, and have higher mortality rates.

Lupus News Today (2023) states "Organ damage is associated with a 1.49-times higher odds of having severe cognitive dysfunction in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a new study reports."  Organ damage was also associated with worse performance in multiple neuropsychological domains, such as working memory, processing speed, and complex attention. By contrast, the levels of disease activity were not associated with cognitive performance.

Of the SLE patients found to have cognitive dysfunction, only 8% had been recognized for cognitive impairments during their annual clinical assessments.

“These findings have implications for [preventive] strategies addressing cognitive dysfunction in SLE,” the researchers wrote. “Clinicians should be aware that cognitive dysfunction is [underrecognized] in SLE, and patients with high damage accrual are at the greatest risk.”

Reference

Lupus facts and statistics | Lupus Foundation of America

https://lupusnewstoday.com/news/organ-damage-sle-linked-cognitive-dysfunction/?utm_source=LUP&utm_campaign=cdaeeda4a8-LUP_ENL_3.0_