Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
A structured primary care–led triage and referral pathway for systemic lupus erythematosus: Operational criteria and referral outcomes from a real-world rheumatology practice
Authors' conclusion
A structured primary care-led triage pathway with explicit operational criteria provides a descriptive framework for risk-stratified referral to rheumatology care for patients with SLE in resource-constrained settings.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with confirmed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) managed January 2025–January 2026 at SERVIMED IPS, Colombia84.5% female
- Participants
- 148 adults
- Exposure
- Continued primary care vs Programmed referral vs Prioritized referral vs Urgent referral
- Programmed referraln = 38
- Prioritized referraln = 55
- Urgent referraln = 19
- Outcome
- Time to rheumatology assessment and indications for referral
Methodological detailssingle practice, four-level triage framework applied retrospectively, Triage pathway implemented by a family physician with postgraduate training in rheumatology
- Single practice
- Four-level triage framework applied retrospectively
- Triage pathway implemented by a family physician with postgraduate training in rheumatology
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Time to rheumatology assessment
- Required rheumatology consultation (38 programmed, 55 prioritized)
- 93 (62.8%)
- Required urgent referral
- 19 (12.8%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Values |
|---|---|
| Classification at Level 3, newly diagnosed vs established patients | Newly diagnosed 56.5% · Established 28.4% |
| SLEDAI-2K | Available patients median 6 (IQR 4–10) |
- SLEDAI-2K: available in 92 patients
Triage reclassification
- Occurred in a minority of cases
Original publication
A structured primary care–led triage and referral pathway for systemic lupus erythematosus: Operational criteria and referral outcomes from a real-world rheumatology practice. Lupus. Published 28 August 2026. doi:10.
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