Impact of Lupus on All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Infection-Related Mortality Among Dialysis Patients: Okinawa Dialysis Study Registry.

INTRODUCTION

Lupus nephritis is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and can lead to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). We aimed to assess the relative mortality risk associated with SLE among dialysis patients.

METHODS

This retrospective longitudinal cohort study included all dialysis patients in the Okinawa Dialysis Study 30 registry. Cox proportional hazard models were performed to assess mortality.

RESULTS

Of 5246 patients, 111 had ESKD secondary to SLE. Compared with ESKD patients secondary to other causes, those with SLE had significantly higher risk of death (HR 2.55, 95% CI 1.81-3.47, p < 0.0001), cardiovascular death (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.13-3.33, p = 0.0158), and infection death (HR 4.21, 95% CI 2.40-7.37, p < 0.0001) after adjusting for age, era of dialysis initiation, and sex.

CONCLUSION

SLE may be independently associated with an increased risk of death in dialysis patients.