Mortality from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Brazil from 2012 to 2021

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, with an inflammatory pattern, that affects the connective tissue in a multisystemic and chronic manner. Its etiology is still unknown and characterized as multifactorial - among them, genetics, exposure to environmental factors, contact with chemical substances, the occurrence of viral infections and emotional factors. Its clinical manifestations usually occur with periods of varying intensities of involvement, alternating between moments of exacerbation and acquiescence, and can seriously affect several systems. Despite the data recorded in previous studies, epidemiological studies to assess the incidence and prevalence of lupus in Brazil are scarce. As a result, this research aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of mortality from SLE in Brazil, from 2012 to 2021. Methods: An observational, ecological, descriptive epidemiological study was carried out, using secondary data obtained from the File Transfer Protocol of the Mortality Information System (SIM) of the IT department of the Unified Health System (Datasus), from 2012 to 2021, whose variables used were: age, sex, color/race and Brazilian region of residence. The data were tabulated in Microsoft Excel Software and results presented in graphs and tables. Results: Data collection demonstrated that a total of 9422 people died from SLE in Brazil between the selected years, with a small reduction of 93 cases from 2018 to 2019. Regarding gender, a significant prevalence in females was also observed (88.40 %) in relation to men (11.60%); As for color/race, there was a negligible difference between white women, with 43.45%, and black women (the sum of black and brown women), with 52.05%; in relation to age, the majority are between 20 and 49 years old (56.85%); and in relation to the Brazilian regions, the highest number of deaths occurred in the southeast (41.80%) and northeast (24.60%), followed by the south (13.20%), north (10.70%) and center regions -west (9.70%). Conclusion: From the results obtained, it is possible to determine a target audience, for greater targeting of care actions, characterized by women aged between 20 and 49 years, regardless of race, as well as the importance of multidisciplinary and multisystemic care for patients with SLE , both in early diagnosis and in the follow-up of treatment and better management of complications that generally lead to death in patients with this disease.