Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Treatment patterns in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in New Zealand
Authors' conclusion
Adherence to hydroxychloroquine in these patients varied and was lower in men and in Māori. Prednisone is commonly prescribed and used long term. Half of those over the age of 40 years old co-administered bisphosphonate.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Aotearoa/New Zealand, linked to pharmaceutical dispensing data
- Participants
- 2,631 patients
- Exposure
- Treatment use compared by gender, ethnicity, age group, socioeconomic status and year of SLE identification
- Outcome
- Use of publicly funded anti-malarials, immunomodulators, biologics, GCs and bisphosphonates
Methodological detailslinked pharmaceutical dispensing data, national (Aotearoa/New Zealand)
- Linked pharmaceutical dispensing data
- National (Aotearoa/New Zealand)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Treatment use among SLE patients
Used HCQ
73.8%
Used immunomodulators/biologics
64.1%
Used prednisone ≥5 mg daily for ≥90 days
68.0%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
High adherence to HCQ (medication possession ratio (MPR) ≥0.8) among HCQ users
- High adherence
- 54.5%
Bisphosphonate use in patients on long-term prednisone, by age
- Over 40 years
- 47.3%
- Under 40 years
- 17.8%
- Better socioeconomic status had higher probability of bisphosphonate use than lower
Original publication
Treatment patterns in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in New Zealand. Lupus. Published 16 August 2024. doi:10.
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