Incidence and medical costs of lupus in Spanish hospitals: a retrospective database analysis

Background: This study aimed to assess the comorbidity profile, use of healthcare resources and medical costs of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) treated at the hospital level in Spain.

Methods: Admission records of patients with SLE and CLE that were registered between January 2016 and December 2020 were obtained from a Spanish hospital discharge database and analyzed in a retrospective multicenter study.

Results: 329 patients met the criteria; 64.44% were female and 35.56% were male, with a median age of 54.65 years. Mean Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 2.75 in the index admission. 31.61% of the patients suffered essential hypertension, 21.96% suffered asthma and 19.76% suffered hyperlipidemia. Mortality rate was 3.95%. The most common medical procedure was heart ultrasound (19.45%) and introduction in peripheral vein of anti-inflammatory with a percutaneous approach (17.93%). Mean admission cost was €6355.99.

Conclusions: Lupus patients showed a higher incidence and prevalence in the female population, with associated cardiac diseases as the main secondary conditions.