Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a condition in which the body cannot differentiate between healthy tissue and foreign bodies or infections. As a result, an 'attack' (or immune) response is triggered against healthy organs; for example in the heart, lungs, brain or kidney which can lead to pain and in turn severe organ damage. SLE can affect a number of major organ systems in the body, but can be most harmful when the kidneys are affected. This type of kidney disease is called Lupus Nephritis (LN) and can cause the the kidneys stop working properly. However, many SLE patients with LN might not have their condition recorded by their GP. The purpose of this study is to look at other information in medical records that may suggest that an SLE patient has LN. This information will be used to better understand how many people in England are affected by SLE and among these how many patients also have LN.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rheumatic disease affecting multiple organs. Lupus nephritis (LN), which is kidney inflammation linked to SLE, is a potentially severe SLE complication, yet data from the UK regarding the incidence, prevalence, and characteristics of LN patients is lacking. Recent data suggest prevalence of SLE in the UK is 97 per 100 000, with 86% of observed cases being female. It is thought that the prevalence of LN in SLE patients is between 20-60%; however, a previous estimate in CPRD data using two Read codes specific for LN found only 3% of SLE patients recorded as having LN. The aim of this work is to develop a disease phenotyping algorithm for LN to increase sensitivity of ascertainment of LN patients in CPRD-HES linked data, and subsequently, to characterise these patients and estimate disease incidence and prevalence. Increasing the sensitivity of algorithms to ascertain patients with LN in CPRD data will help to better understand the epidemiology of SLE and LN in England and aid future research involving this patient group.
Roelien Postema - Chief Investigator - Bristol-Myers Squibb - USA ( BMS )
Laura McDonald - Corresponding Applicant - Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited - UK ( BMS )
Laura McDonald - Collaborator - Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited - UK ( BMS )
Sreeram Ramagopalan - Collaborator - London School Of Economics & Political Science
HES Admitted Patient Care;Patient Level Index of Multiple Deprivation