Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Predictive correlates of arthritis and joint damage in systemic lupus erythematosus: a multinational prospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Arthritis in the APLC cohort was infrequent compared with other cohorts and was associated with smoking, higher overall disease activity, and damage accrual across multiple domains.
Study context
- Population
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in the Asia-Pacific Lupus Collaboration (APLC) cohort, 2013–2020median 2.5 (1.0–5.1) years follow-up
- Participants
- 4,106 patients
- Outcome
- Prevalence and predictive correlates of arthritis (persistent: ≥2 consecutive visits, SLEDAI-2K) and joint damage (SDI: deforming or erosive arthritis)
Methodological detailsmultinational, Cox hazard models, Kaplan-Meier analyses
- Multinational
- Cox hazard models
- Kaplan-Meier analyses
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Arthritis at least once · median 2.5 (1.0-5.1) years
Arthritis at least once
803 of 4106
19.6%
Joint damage accrued
18 of 3383
0.53%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Correlates of arthritis
- Patients with arthritis more likely female, Caucasian, current smokers at enrolment, less likely tertiary education; higher overall disease activity, lower physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL)
Predictors of joint damage
- Joint damage more likely in patients with arthritis (Kaplan-Meier)
- Persistent arthritis and longer follow-up were risk factors for joint damage accrual; high-income countries protective
- Patients with joint damage had worse physical HRQoL
Original publication
Predictive correlates of arthritis and joint damage in systemic lupus erythematosus: a multinational prospective cohort study. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 11 May 2026. doi:10.
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