High prevalence of mental health comorbidities found in patients with lupus nephritis
In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN), a higher incidence rate of mental health comorbidities was found, resulting in higher health care costs and utilization for these patients than patients with SLE and LN without mental health comorbidities, according to real-world study data presented at European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2021 Congress.
In this study, 7760 patients with SLE and 336 with LN were divided into 2 groups. Patients with a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or psychosis were classified as having mental health comorbidities and those without an accompanying diagnosis classified as without a mental health diagnosis. The groups were then matched with a 1:1 ratio based on age, sex, and region.
Overall, the mental health prevalence rate and incidence rates were 35.7% and 18.5% in patients with SLE and 28.8% and 15.3% in patients with LN, respectively. The most common mental health comorbidities were anxiety and depression.
Patients with SLE and LN with mental health comorbidities averaged an additional 2.6 and 7.2 days of inpatients’ stay, respectively, then those with no mental health comorbidities, as well as significantly more outpatient visits per patient per year (PPPY). Patients with SLE with mental health comorbidities had an overall healthcare cost PPPY of $49,553 compared to $26,064 in their counterparts without mental health comorbidities. Patients with LN with mental health comorbidities had an overall healthcare cost PPPY of ($112,169 compared to $39,529in their counterparts without mental health comorbidities. Overall inpatients costs were 3 to 5 times greater in the mental health group.
Reference
Petri MA, et al. Epidemiology and economic burden associated with mental health comorbidities in systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis. Presented at: European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2021 Congress.
