Comparing Demographics, Clinical Presentation, Treatments and Outcome Between Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Treated in a Public and Private Health System in Santa Fe, Argentina

The study includes 159 SLE patients seen between 1987 and 2011, of whom 116 were treated in the public health system and 43 in private practice. In the comparison between both groups, it was shown that patients in the public health system were younger at first consultation and at the onset of SLE, and that the mean duration of their disease prior to nephropathy was statistically significantly shorter. They also presented with more SLE activity (measured by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity Index) such as fever, lower levels of C4, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Although cyclophosphamide was administered more frequently to patients in the public health system group, there were no statistically significant differences in renal histological findings. A second renal biopsy was performed on 20 patients due to the presence of persistent proteinuria, peripheral edema, urinary casts, or because of previous defective renal specimens. The overall 10-year survival of the patients in the public health system was 78% compared to a survival rate of 91% for the patients in private practices. When survival was evaluated at 15 years, however, no differences were found (log rank test: 0.65). Patients from both public and private groups attended medical specialist practices and received early diagnoses and close follow-ups.

ResumenSe identificó a 159 pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) vistos entre 1987 y 2011. Ciento dieciséis fueron tratados en el sistema público de salud y 43 en el sistema privado. Ambos grupos fueron comparados, observando que los primeros tenían menor edad al momento de la primera consulta y al inicio del LES y menor duración de la enfermedad al momento de producirse la nefropatía de manera estadísticamente significativa. También mostraron mayor actividad del LES (medido por Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity Index), con presencia de fiebre, menor nivel de C4 y elevado valor de eritrosedimentación globular. La ciclofosfamida fue administrada con mayor frecuencia a los pacientes del sistema público, si bien no hubo diferencias en los hallazgos histológicos renales. En 20 pacientes se realizó una segunda biopsia renal debido a la presencia de proteinuria persistente, edema periférico y cilindros en orina, o por tener una mala muestra renal previa. La supervivencia a 10 años fue del 78% en los pacientes atendidos en el sistema público vs el 91% de aquellos atendidos en el sistema privado. No se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas cuando la sobrevida se evaluó a 15 años (log rank test: 0,65). Ambos grupos de pacientes (tanto los del sistema público como los del sector privado) fueron atendidos por especialistas, quienes realizaron un diagnóstico temprano de la enfermedad, con un cuidadoso seguimiento.