Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Epidemiology of patients with moderate-to-severe SLE in Sweden
Authors' conclusion
Using national register data, the estimated prevalence of SLE in Sweden is higher than published figures from previous years.
Study context
- Population
- Adult SLE patients in the Swedish National Patient Register, July 2005–December 20195,076 incident cases
- Participants
- 10,186 patients
- Exposure
- SLE patients by severity level vs matched non-SLE comparators
- SLEn = 10,186
- Outcome
- Prevalence and incidence of SLE in Sweden; proportion with moderate-to-severe disease; association of severity with survival
Methodological detailsnationwide, matched 5:1 with non-SLE comparators, Cox regression
- Nationwide
- Matched 5:1 with non-SLE comparators
- Cox regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Average incidence of adult SLE, 2015–2019 (per 100 000)
4.1
Prevalence in 2019 (per 100 000)
93.8
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Moderate-to-severe disease · first year postdiagnosis — SLE
- 61%
- Moderate-to-severe disease — Stabilising at approximately (after 3-4 years, patients still in follow-up)
- 45%
Survival
- Across all severity levels, SLE patients had poorer survival than comparators
- High severity in the year after diagnosis independently associated with increased mortality vs mild disease, regardless of age, sex or prescribed treatments
Original publication
Epidemiology of patients with moderate-to-severe SLE in Sweden. Lupus Sci Med. Published 2 October 2025. doi:10.
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