Multiplicative Impact of Adverse Social Determinants of Health on Outcomes in Lupus Nephritis: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health (SDoH) likely contribute to outcome disparities in lupus nephritis (LN). Understanding the overall burden and contribution of each domain could guide future health-equity focused interventions to improve outcomes and reduce disparities in LN. Objectives of this meta-analysis were to: 1) determine the association of overall SDoH and specific SDoH domains on LN outcomes, and 2) develop a framework for the multidimensional impact of SDoH on LN outcomes. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive search of studies measuring associations between SDoH and LN outcomes. We examined pooled odds of poor LN outcomes including mortality, end-stage kidney disease, or cardiovascular disease in patients with and without adverse SDoH. Additionally, we calculated the pooled odds ratios of outcomes by four SDoH domains: individual (e.g., insurance), healthcare (e.g., fragmented care), community (e.g., neighborhood socioeconomic status), and health behaviors (e.g., smoking). RESULTS: Among 531 screened studies, 31 met inclusion and 13 studies with raw data were included in meta-analysis. Pooled odds of poor outcomes, were 1.47-fold higher in patients with any adverse SDoH. Patients with adverse SDoH in individual and healthcare domains had 1.64-fold and 1.77-fold higher odds of poor outcomes. We found a multiplicative impact of having ≥2 adverse SDoH on LN outcomes. Patients of Black Race with public insurance and fragmented care had 12-fold higher odds of poor LN outcomes. CONCLUSION: Adverse SDoH is associated with poor LN outcomes. Having ≥2 adverse SDoH, specifically in different SDoH domains, had a multiplicative impact leading to worse LN outcomes, widening disparities.

Trends in avascular necrosis and related arthroplasties in hospitalized patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a devastating complication often necessitating arthroplasty, particularly common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Limited research exists on arthroplasty trends since new steroid-sparing agents. We analyzed trends and characteristics associated with AVN and AVN-related arthroplasties among SLE and RA hospitalizations using two decades of data from the U.S. National Inpatient Sample (NIS). METHODS: This cross-sectional study used NIS (2000-2019) to identify hospitalized adults with SLE and RA, with or without AVN, using ICD codes. AVN was further grouped by arthroplasty status. Primary outcomes were AVN and AVN-related arthroplasty rates and time trends in SLE and RA. Baseline sociodemographics and comorbidities were compared. Analyses used STATA and Joinpoint regression to calculate annual percent change (APC). RESULTS: Overall, 42,728 (1.3 %) SLE and 43,600 (0.5 %) RA hospitalizations had concomitant AVN (SLE-AVN and RA-AVN). Of these, 16,724 (39 %) and 25,210 (58 %) underwent arthroplasties, respectively. RA-AVN increased (APC: 0.98*), with a decrease in arthroplasties (APC: -0.82*). In contrast, SLE-AVN initially increased with a breakpoint in 2011 (APC 2000-2011: 1.94* APC 2011-2019 -2.03), with declining arthroplasties (APC -2.03*). AVN hospitalizations consisted of individuals who were younger and of Black race; while arthroplasties were less likely in individuals of Black race or Medicaid coverage. CONCLUSION: We report a breakpoint in rising SLE-AVN after 2011, which may relate to newer steroid-sparing therapies (i.e., belimumab). AVN-associated arthroplasties decreased in SLE and RA. Fewer AVN-associated arthroplasties were noted for Black patients and those with Medicaid, indicating potential disparities. Further research should examine treatment differences impacting AVN and arthroplasty rates.

Implementing a Staff-Led Smoking Cessation Intervention in a Diverse Safety-Net Rheumatology Clinic: A Pre-Post Scalability Study in a Low-Resource Setting.

OBJECTIVE: Quit Connect (QC), our specialty clinic smoking cessation intervention, supports clinic staff to check, advise, and connect willing patients to a state quit line or class. QC improved tobacco screening and quit line referrals 26-fold in a predominantly White academic health care system population. Implementing QC includes education, electronic health record (EHR) reminders, and periodic audit feedback. This study tested QC's feasibility and impact in a safety-net rheumatology clinic with a predominantly Black population. METHODS: In this pre-post study, adult rheumatology visits were analyzed 12 months before through 18 months after QC intervention (November 2019 through November 2021, omitting COVID-19 peak April through November 2020). EHR data compared process and clinical outcomes, including offers, referrals to resources, completed referrals, and documented cessation. Clinic staff engaged in pre-post focus groups and questionnaires regarding intervention feasibility and acceptability. Cost-effectiveness was also assessed. RESULTS: Visit-level patients who smoked were 89.8% Black and 69.5% women (n = 550). Before intervention, clinic staff rarely asked patients about readiness to cut back smoking (<10% assessment). After QC intervention, staff assessed quit readiness in 31.8% of visits with patients who smoked (vs 8.1% before); 58.9% of these patients endorsed readiness to cut back or quit. Of 102 accepting cessation services, 37% (n = 17) of those reached set a quit date. Staff found the intervention feasible and acceptable. Each quit attempt cost approximately $4 to $10. CONCLUSION: In a safety-net rheumatology clinic with a predominantly Black population, QC improved tobacco screening, readiness-to-quit assessment, and referrals and was also feasible and cost-effective.

Receipt of rheumatology care and lupus-specific labs among young adults with systemic lupus erythematosus: A US Medicare retention in care cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: In systemic lupus erythematosus, poor disease outcomes occur in young adults, patients identifying as Black or Hispanic, and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. These identities and social factors differentially shape care access and quality that contribute to lupus health disparities in the US. Thus, our objective was to measure markers of care access and quality, including rheumatology visits (longitudinal care retention) and lupus-specific serology testing, by race and ethnicity, neighborhood disadvantage, and geographic context. METHODS: This cohort study used a geo-linked 20% national sample of young adult Medicare beneficiaries (ages 18-35) with lupus-coded encounters and a 1-year assessment period. Retention in lupus care required a rheumatology visit in each 6-month period, and serology testing required ≥1 complement or dsDNA antibody test within the year. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit for visit-based retention and serology testing to determine associations with race and ethnicity, neighborhood disadvantage, and geography. RESULTS: Among 1,036 young adults with lupus, 39% saw a rheumatologist every 6 months and 28% had serology testing. White beneficiaries from the least disadvantaged quintile of neighborhoods had higher visit-based retention than other beneficiaries (64% vs 30%-60%). Serology testing decreased with increasing neighborhood disadvantage quintile (aOR 0.80; 95% CI 0.71, 0.90) and in the Midwest (aOR 0.46; 0.30, 0.71). CONCLUSION: Disparities in care, measured by rheumatology visits and serology testing, exist by neighborhood disadvantage, race and ethnicity, and region among young adults with lupus, despite uniform Medicare coverage. Findings support evaluating lupus care quality measures and their impact on US lupus outcomes.

Alzheimer incidence and prevalence with and without asthma: A Medicare cohort study.

BACKGROUND: International data suggest that asthma, like other inflammatory diseases, might increase Alzheimer disease (AD) risk. OBJECTIVE: We sought to explore risk pathways and future mitigation strategies by comparing diagnostic claims-based AD incidence and prevalence among US patients with asthma with those without asthma. METHODS: This cohort study included a national Medicare 20% random sample (2013-2015). Adult patients with asthma with more than 12 months continuous Medicare were compared with subjects without asthma overall and as matched. Asthma was defined by 1 inpatient or 2 outpatient codes for asthma. The main outcomes were 2-year incident or prevalent AD defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 331.0 or Tenth Revision code G30.0, G30.1, G30.8, or G30.9. RESULTS: Among 5,460,732 total beneficiaries, 678,730 patients were identified with baseline asthma and more often identified as Black or Hispanic, were Medicaid eligible, or resided in a highly disadvantaged neighborhood than those without asthma. Two-year incidence of AD was 1.4% with asthma versus 1.1% without asthma; prevalence was 7.8% versus 5.4% (both P ≤ .001). Per 100,000 patients over 2 years, 303 more incident AD diagnoses occurred in those with asthma, with 2,425 more prevalent cases (P < .001). Multivariable models showed that asthma had greater odds of 2-year AD incidence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.29-1.36]; matched 1.2 [95% CI, 1.17-1.24]) and prevalence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.47-1.50]; matched 1.25 [95% CI, 1.22-1.27]). CONCLUSIONS: Asthma was associated with 20% to 33% increased 2-year incidence and 25% to 48% increased prevalence of claims-based AD in this nationally representative US sample. Future research should investigate risk pathways of underlying comorbidities and social determinants as well as whether there are potential asthma treatments that may preserve brain health.

Implementing an osteoarthritis management program to deliver guideline-driven care for knee and hip osteoarthritis in a U.S. academic health system.

Objective: Assess implementation feasibility and outcomes for an Osteoarthritis Management Program (OAMP) at an academic center. Design: This open study assessed an OAMP designed to deliver care in 1-5 individual or group visits across ≤12 months. Eligibility included adults with knee or hip osteoarthritis with ≥1 visit from 7/1/2017-1/15/2021. A multidisciplinary care team provided: education on osteoarthritis, self-management, exercise, weight loss; pharmacologic management; assessments of mood, sleep, quality of life, and diet. Clinic utilization and growth are reported through 2022. Patient outcomes of body mass index (BMI), pain, and function were analyzed using multivariable general linear models. OAMP outcomes were feasibility and sustainability. Results: Most patients were locally referred by primary care. 953 patients attended 2531 visits (average visits 2.16, treatment duration 187.9 days). Most were female (72.6%), older (62.1), white (91.1%), and had medical insurance (95.4%). Obesity was prevalent (84.7% BMI ≥30, average BMI 40.9), mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 1.89, and functional testing was below average. Longitudinal modeling revealed statistically but not clinically significant pain reduction (4.4-3.9 on 0-10 scale, p â€‹= â€‹0.002). BMI did not significantly change (p â€‹= â€‹0.87). Higher baseline pain and BMI correlated with greater reductions in each posttreatment. Uninsured patients had shorter treatment duration. Increasing clinic hours (4-24 â€‹h weekly) and serving 953 patients over four years demonstrated OAMP sustainability. Conclusions: OAMP implementation was feasible and sustainable. Patients with high baseline pain and BMI were more likely to improve. Noninsurance was a barrier. These results contribute to understanding OAMP outcomes in U.S. healthcare.

Rheumatology High Blood Pressure Protocol Reduces Disparities, But Delays Remain for External Primary Care.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To address high blood pressure (BP) in rheumatology patients, we previously implemented BP Connect, a brief staff-driven protocol to address high BP. Although timely follow-up and hypertension rates improved for patients with in-system primary care (PC), many receive PC and rheumatology care in separate health systems. In this cohort study, we compared rates of timely PC follow-up for high BP across-system health maintenance organizations (HMOs) before and after BP Connect implementation. METHODS: All adult patients with high rheumatology clinic BP and PC in that HMO were eligible. BP Connect's protocol engaged the staff in remeasuring high BP (≥140/90 mm Hg), advising cardiovascular disease risk, and connecting timely PC follow-up, which for patients with PC across system includes written follow-up instructions. After an eligible rheumatology visit, the next HMO PC visit with BP was used to determine rates and odds of timely follow-up before and after using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Across 1327 rheumatology visits with high BP and across-system PC (2013-2019), 951 occurred after 2015 BP Connect implementation; 400 had confirmed high BP. Primary care follow-up rose from 20.5% to 23.5%. The odds of timely PC BP follow-up insignificantly changed (odds ratio, 1.19; confidence interval, 0.85-1.68). For visits with Black patients, the odds of timely follow-up did significantly increase (1.95; confidence interval, 1.02-3.79). CONCLUSIONS: Timely follow-up for Black patients did improve, highlighting protocol interventions for more equitable health care. In contrast to our prior in-system study, BP Connect did not significantly improve follow-up with an across-system PC, indicating a need for direct scheduling. Future directions include piloting direct across-system scheduling.

Development of the American College of Rheumatology Patient-Reported Outcome Quality Measures for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: As part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded American College of Rheumatology (ACR) initiative, we sought to develop quality measures related to Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) use for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinical care. METHODS: An expert workgroup composed of physician, patient, and researcher representatives convened to identify patient-reported outcome (PRO) domains of greatest importance to people with SLE. A patient advisory panel separately ranked domains. PROMs assessing priority domains were identified through structured literature review, and detailed psychometric reviews were conducted for each PROM. In a Delphi process, the expert workgroup rated PROMs on content validity, psychometric quality, feasibility of implementation, and importance for guiding patient self-management. The patient advisory panel reviewed PROMs in parallel and contributed to the final recommendations. RESULTS: Among relevant PRO domains, the workgroup and patient partners ranked depression, physical function, pain, cognition, and fatigue as high-priority domains. The workgroup recommended at least once yearly measurement for (1) assessment of depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire or Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) depression scales; (2) assessment of physical function using PROMIS physical function scales or the Multi-Dimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire; and (3) optional assessments of fatigue and cognition. Pain scales evaluated were not found to be sufficiently superior to what is already assessed in most SLE clinic visits. CONCLUSION: Expert workgroup members and patient partners recommend that clinicians assess depression and physical function at least once yearly in all people with SLE. Additional PROMs addressing cognition and fatigue can also be assessed. Next steps are to incorporate PROM-based quality measures into the ACR The Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness registry.

Reference Range of Hydroxychloroquine Blood Levels That Can Reduce Odds of Active Lupus and Prevent Flares.

OBJECTIVE: Recent data show that lower hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) doses are associated with a two- to six-fold higher risk of lupus flares. Thus, establishing an effective reference range of HCQ blood levels with upper and lower bounds for efficacy may support individualizing HCQ dosing to prevent flares. METHODS: HCQ levels in whole blood and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) were measured during the baseline visit and again during a standard of care routine follow-up visit. Active cross-sectional lupus at baseline was defined as SLEDAI ≥6; a within subject flare was defined as a subsequent three-point increase in SLEDAI with clinical symptoms requiring therapy change. We examined associations between active lupus and HCQ blood levels at baseline and flares and HCQ levels during 6 to 12-month routine lupus follow-up visits using mixed regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 158 baseline patient visits, 19% had active lupus. Odds of active lupus were 71% lower in patients with levels within a 750 to 1,200 ng/mL range (adjusted odds ratio 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.08-0.96). Using convenience sampling strategy during a pandemic, we longitudinally followed 42 patients. Among those patients, 17% flared during their follow-up visit. Maintaining HCQ levels within 750 to 1,200 ng/mL reduced the odds of a flare by 26% over a nine-month median follow-up. CONCLUSION: An effective reference range of HCQ blood levels, 750 to 1,200 ng/mL, was associated with 71% lower odds of active lupus, and maintaining levels within this range reduced odds of flares by 26%. These findings could guide clinicians to individualize HCQ doses to maintain HCQ levels within this range to maximize efficacy.

Multimorbidity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Literature Review and Future Directions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To offer a narrative review of literature and an update on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) multimorbidity research over the past five years as well as future directions. RECENT FINDINGS: Patients with RA experience higher prevalence of multimorbidity (31-86% vs 18-71% in non-RA) and faster accumulation of comorbidities. Patients with multimorbidity have worse outcomes compared to non-RA multimorbid patients and RA without multimorbidity including mortality, cardiac events, and hospitalizations. Comorbid disease clusters often included: cardiopulmonary, cardiometabolic, and depression and pain-related conditions. High-frequency comorbidities included interstitial lung disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis, thyroid disorders, hypertension, and cancer. Furthermore, patients with RA and multimorbidity are paradoxically at increased risk of high RA disease activity but experience a lower likelihood of biologic use and more biologic failures. RA patients experience higher prevalence of multimorbidity and worse outcomes versus non-RA and RA without multimorbidity. Findings call for further studies.

Development of American College of Rheumatology Quality Measures for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Modified Delphi Process With Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) Registry Data Review.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop readily measurable digital quality measure statements for clinical care in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using a multistep process guided by consensus methods. METHODS: Using a modified Delphi process, an American College of Rheumatology (ACR) workgroup of SLE experts reviewed all North American and European guidelines from 2000 to 2020 on treatment, monitoring, and phenotyping of patients with lupus. Workgroup members extracted quality constructs from guidelines, rated these by importance and feasibility, and generated evidence-based quality measure statements. The ACR Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) Registry was queried for measurement data availability. In 3 consecutive Delphi sessions, a multidisciplinary Delphi panel voted on the importance and feasibility of each statement. Proposed measures with consensus on feasibility and importance were ranked to identify the top 3 measures. RESULTS: Review of guidelines and distillation of 57 quality constructs resulted in 15 quality measure statements. Among these, 5 met high consensus for importance and feasibility, including 2 on treatment and 3 on laboratory monitoring measures. The 3 highest-ranked statements were recommended for further measure specification as SLE digital quality measures: 1) hydroxychloroquine use, 2) limiting glucocorticoid use >7.5 mg/day to <6 months, and 3) end-organ monitoring of kidney function and urine protein excretion at least every 6 months. CONCLUSION: The Delphi process selected 3 quality measures for SLE care on hydroxychloroquine, glucocorticoid reduction, and kidney monitoring. Next, measures will undergo specification and validity testing in RISE and US rheumatology practices as the foundation for national implementation and use in quality improvement programs.

Association of rurality and identifying as black with receipt of specialty care among patients hospitalized with a diabetic foot ulcer: a Medicare cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Rural patients with diabetic foot ulcers, especially those identifying as black, face increased risk of major amputation. Specialty care can reduce this risk. However, care disparities might beget outcome disparities. We aimed to determine whether a smaller proportion of rural patients, particularly those identifying as black, receive specialty care compared with the national proportion. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This 100% national retrospective cohort examined Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with diabetic foot ulcers (2013-2014). We report observed differences in specialty care, including: endocrinology, infectious disease, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, podiatry, or vascular surgery. We used logistic regression to examine possible intersectionality between rurality and race, controlling for sociodemographics, comorbidities, and ulcer severity and including an interaction term between rurality and identifying as black. RESULTS: Overall, 32.15% (n=124 487) of patients hospitalized with a diabetic foot ulcer received specialty care. Among rural patients (n=13 100), the proportion decreased to 29.57%. For patients identifying as black (n=21 649), the proportion was 33.08%. Among rural patients identifying as black (n=1239), 26.23% received specialty care. This was >5 absolute percentage points less than the overall cohort. The adjusted OR for receiving specialty care among rural versus urban patients identifying as black was 0.61 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.71), which was lower than that for rural versus urban patients identifying as white (aOR 0.85, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.89). This metric supported a role for intersectionality between rurality and identifying as black. CONCLUSIONS: A smaller proportion of rural patients, particularly those identifying as black, received specialty care when hospitalized with a diabetic foot ulcer compared with the overall cohort. This might contribute to known disparities in major amputations. Future studies are needed to determine causality.

Disparities in 30-day readmission rates among Medicare enrollees with dementia.

BACKGROUND: Readmissions contribute to excessive care costs and burden for people living with dementia. Assessments of racial disparities in readmissions among dementia populations are lacking, and the role of social and geographic risk factors such as individual-level exposure to greater neighborhood disadvantage is poorly understood. We examined the association between race and 30-day readmissions in a nationally representative sample of Black and non-Hispanic White individuals with dementia diagnoses. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used 100% Medicare fee-for-service claims from all 2014 hospitalizations nationwide among Medicare enrollees with dementia diagnosis linked to patient, stay, and hospital factors. The sample consisted of 1,523,142 hospital stays among 945,481 beneficiaries. The relationship between all cause 30-day readmissions and the explanatory variable of self-reported race (Black, non-Hispanic White) was examined via generalized estimating equations approach adjusting for patient, stay, and hospital-level characteristics to model 30-day readmission odds. RESULTS: Black Medicare beneficiaries had 37% higher readmission odds compared to White beneficiaries (unadjusted OR 1.37, CI 1.35-1.39). This heightened readmission risk persisted after adjusting for geographic factors (OR 1.33, CI 1.31-1.34), social factors (OR 1.25, CI 1.23-1.27), hospital characteristics (OR 1.24, CI 1.23-1.26), stay-level factors (OR 1.22, CI 1.21-1.24), demographics (OR 1.21, CI 1.19-1.23), and comorbidities (OR 1.16, CI 1.14-1.17), suggesting racially-patterned disparities in care account for a portion of observed differences. Associations varied by individual-level exposure to neighborhood disadvantage such that the protective effect of living in a less disadvantaged neighborhood was associated with reduced readmissions for White but not Black beneficiaries. Conversely, among White beneficiaries, exposure to the most disadvantaged neighborhoods associated with greater readmission rates compared to White beneficiaries residing in less disadvantaged contexts. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant racial and geographic disparities in 30-day readmission rates among Medicare beneficiaries with dementia diagnoses. Findings suggest distinct mechanisms underlying observed disparities differentially influence various subpopulations.

Associations of Postdischarge Follow-Up With Acute Care and Mortality in Lupus: A Medicare Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus experience the sixth highest rate of 30-day readmissions among chronic diseases. Timely postdischarge follow-up is a marker of ambulatory care quality that can reduce readmissions in other chronic conditions. Our objective was to test the hypotheses that 1) beneficiaries from populations experiencing health disparities, including patients from disadvantaged neighborhoods, will have lower odds of completed follow-up, and that 2) follow-up will predict longer time without acute care use (readmission, observation stay, or emergency department visit) or mortality. METHODS: This observational cohort study included hospitalizations in January-November 2014 from a 20% random sample of Medicare adults. Included hospitalizations had a lupus code, discharge to home without hospice, and continuous Medicare A/B coverage for 1 year before and 1 month after hospitalization. Timely follow-up included visits with primary care or rheumatology within 30 days. Thirty-day survival outcomes were acute care use and mortality adjusted for sociodemographic information and comorbidities. RESULTS: Over one-third (35%) of lupus hospitalizations lacked 30-day follow-up. Younger age, living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and rurality were associated with lower odds of follow-up. Follow-up was not associated with subsequent acute care or mortality in beneficiaries age <65 years. In contrast, follow-up was associated with a 27% higher hazard for acute care use (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.27 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.09-1.47]) and 65% lower mortality (adjusted HR 0.35 [95% CI 0.19-0.67]) among beneficiaries age ≥65 years. CONCLUSION: One-third of lupus hospitalizations lacked follow-up, with significant disparities in rural and disadvantaged neighborhoods. Follow-up was associated with increased acute care, but 65% lower mortality in older systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Further development of lupus-specific postdischarge strategies is needed.

Age-Stratified 30-day Rehospitalization and Mortality and Predictors of Rehospitalization Among Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Medicare Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies suggest young adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have high 30-day readmission rates, which may necessitate tailored readmission reduction strategies. To aid in risk stratification for future strategies, we measured 30-day rehospitalization and mortality rates among Medicare beneficiaries with SLE and determined rehospitalization predictors by age. METHODS: In a 2014 20% national Medicare sample of hospitalizations, rehospitalization risk and mortality within 30 days of discharge were calculated for young (aged 18-35 yrs), middle-aged (aged 36-64 yrs), and older (aged 65+ yrs) beneficiaries with and without SLE. Multivariable generalized estimating equation models were used to predict rehospitalization rates among patients with SLE by age group using patient, hospital, and geographic factors. RESULTS: Among 1.39 million Medicare hospitalizations, 10,868 involved beneficiaries with SLE. Hospitalized young adult beneficiaries with SLE were more racially diverse, were living in more disadvantaged areas, and had more comorbidities than older beneficiaries with SLE and those without SLE. Thirty-day rehospitalization was 36% among young adult beneficiaries with SLE-40% higher than peers without SLE and 85% higher than older beneficiaries with SLE. Longer length of stay and higher comorbidity risk score increased odds of rehospitalization in all age groups, whereas specific comorbid condition predictors and their effect varied. Our models, which incorporated neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage, had moderate-to-good predictive value (C statistics 0.67-0.77), outperforming administrative data models lacking comprehensive social determinants in other conditions. CONCLUSION: Young adults with SLE on Medicare had very high 30-day rehospitalization at 36%. Considering socioeconomic disadvantage and comorbidities provided good prediction of rehospitalization risk, particularly in young adults. Young beneficiaries with SLE with comorbidities should be a focus of programs aimed at reducing rehospitalizations.

Timing and Predictors of Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Risk Occurs Early and Highlights Racial Disparities.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects Black people 2 to 3 times more frequently than non-Black people and is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. In total, 4 studies with predominantly non-Black SLE cohorts highlighted that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is no longer primarily a late complication of SLE. This study assessed the timing and predictors of incident CVD in a predominantly Black population-based SLE cohort. METHODS: Incident SLE cases from the population-based Georgia Lupus Registry were validated as having a CVD event through review of medical records and matching with the Georgia Hospital Discharge Database and the National Death Index. The surveillance period for an incident CVD event spanned a 15-year period, starting from 2 years prior to SLE diagnosis. RESULTS: Among 336 people with SLE, 253 (75%) were Black and 56 (17%) had an incident CVD event. The frequency of CVD events peaked in years 2 and 11 after SLE diagnosis. There was a 7-fold higher risk of incident CVD over the entire 15-year period; this risk was 19-fold higher in the first 12 years in Black people as compared to non-Black people with SLE. Black people with SLE (P < 0.001) and those with discoid rash (hazard ratio 3.2, 95% CI 1.4-7.1) had a higher risk of incident CVD events. CONCLUSION: The frequency of incident CVD events peaked in years 2 and 11 after SLE diagnosis. Being Black or having a discoid rash were strong predictors of an incident CVD event. Surveillance for CVD and preventive interventions, directed particularly toward Black people with recent SLE diagnoses, are needed to reduce racial disparities.

Improvement in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus After Twenty Weeks of Belimumab Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), with or without systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), can be debilitating and cause psychological distress. Belimumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits B cell activation, is a Federal Drug Administration-approved SLE medication, but less is known on its use in CLE. Moreover, the time to response after starting belimumab in CLE is unknown, which may lead to premature discontinuation in the absence of early perceivable benefits. Thus, the objectives of this meta-analysis were to examine the efficacy of belimumab, as well as the time to response after starting belimumab in patients with CLE with or without SLE. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed to include studies that examined clinical response in patients with CLE with or without SLE receiving belimumab. A clinical response at 52 weeks in belimumab users versus nonusers was summarized in a random-effects model. Additionally, we calculated the pooled odds ratio (OR) for each consecutive 4-week observation interval to identify time to a clinical response in CLE with or without SLE after starting belimumab. RESULTS: Among 747 screened studies, 14 were included. The pooled odds of clinical response at 52 weeks in belimumab users were 44% higher compared to nonusers (OR 1.44 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.20-1.74], I2  = 0%). A clinical response was first noted after 20 weeks of starting belimumab (OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.01-1.81], I2  = 0%), with a sustained clinical response through 1 year. CONCLUSION: The findings support belimumab as an effective therapy for CLE with SLE. Likewise, the findings inform patient counseling regarding estimates of 20 weeks to achieve a response.

Association Between Neighborhood Deprivation and Number of Rheumatology Providers.

OBJECTIVE: Geographic disparities in the distribution and practice patterns of rheumatology providers may negatively impact patients with rheumatic diseases. The objective of this study was to describe the distribution of rheumatologists with respect to the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and to identify differences in practice patterns among Medicare Part D rheumatologist prescribers. METHODS: We identified 5,882 rheumatologists who served a mean ± SD of 280 ± 208 Medicare Part D beneficiaries per year. In a Poisson regression model of the number of rheumatologists and the ADI of their practice location, for every increase of 10 on the ADI scale (range 0-100; higher = higher deprivation), there were 20.3% fewer rheumatologists (P < 0.001), resulting in 2.1 times as many rheumatologists per 100,000 people in the first ADI quintile when compared to the fifth ADI quintile. RESULTS: The number of rheumatologists peaked in 2016 and decreased steadily thereafter across all quintiles. The prescribing rate per 100 beneficiaries was significantly different between quintiles across all studied drug classes except for opioids, but the trends were inconsistent and of unclear clinical significance. CONCLUSION: Rheumatologists tended to practice in areas with less deprivation, resulting in twice as many rheumatologists per 100,000 people in the quintile of lowest deprivation as opposed to the quintile with the highest deprivation. Public policy makers should be aware of these data and take steps to mitigate disparities in access to care as the rheumatology workforce shrinks.