What is it about?
Although it was previously believed that systemic lupus erythematosus was not common among Africans, it has become increasingly apparent that the incidence is higher, and socioeconomic challenges such as physician shortages, poor medical access and health literacy may worsen prognosis. This study examines outcomes of hospitalized systemic lupus erythematosus patients over a two-year period and serves as a baseline for comparison for future studies to examine the outcomes with the provision of more dedicated care in a resource poor setting
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Why is it important?
Understanding the effect and outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus across different countries can help future studies identify the role of genetic, environmental, and other causative factors responsible for the increase incidence of the disease, and hence improve its treatment and possibly find the cure.
Perspectives
Collecting this data made me realize the devastating nature of Lupus, how much more common it was than we thought in Africa and how badly needed at that time was a dedicated rheumatology unit to ensure better outcomes. This was the trajectory that set me on the path to start the first rheumatology clinic in Ghana, West Africa and to be come a rheumatologist.
Dzifa Dey
School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Ghana
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Predictors and outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) admission rates in a large teaching hospital in sub-Saharan Africa, Lupus, November 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0961203317742710.
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