Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Health journey of Nigerian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors' conclusion
Diagnostic delay is observed in the majority of our patients. This delay is associated with multiple hospital visits, low income, and internal organ manifestations.
Study context
- Population
- Patients diagnosed with SLE who are members of a Nigerian lupus support group92.9% female
- Participants
- 245 patients
- Outcome
- Delayed diagnosis: time from first symptoms to lupus diagnosis ≥6 months
Methodological detailsquestionnaire-based, three-month
- Questionnaire-based
- Three-month
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Delayed diagnosis
80%
Delayed referral
66.9%
Diagnosed between 6 months and 2 years after first symptoms
53.9%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Factors independently associated with delayed diagnosis
- Low income, OR
- 7.4
- Internal organ manifestations, OR
- 4.5
- Multiple doctors' visits, OR
- 11.6
Diagnostic journey intervals
- Visited first doctor within 6 months of symptom onset
- 42%
- Diagnosed within 4 weeks of rheumatologist's evaluation
- 50.2%
- Referred to rheumatologists within 6 months of visit to last doctor
- Roughly half
Original publication
Health journey of Nigerian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus. Published 4 March 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →