SURVIVAL ANALYSIS OF 306 EUROPEAN SPANISH PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Objective: To describe survival of lupus in South European Spanish pat ients. Patients and Methods: Observational study of all SLE Spanish pa tients seen at three University Hospitals between 1975 and 1993. The c harts of all patients were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty-four clinic and laboratory variables were extracted from charts. Univariate analy sis, multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, actuari al life tables and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to calculate survival probability and identify variables associated with survival. Results: Three hundred and six (275 female and 31 male) pati ents were identified. Their mean age at diagnosis was 31.9 years (rang e 4 to 85). The mean duration of followup was 79 (1-126) months. Thirt y-one patients died. The most common cause of death was infection (29% ). Five, 10 and 15 years' survival rate was 90% +/- 0.0158, 85% +/- 0. 0262 and 80% +/- 0.0413, respectively. Log-rank analysis showed that m ale sex, proteinuria and nephropathy at diagnosis were associated with poor survival. By univariate and multivariate analysis male gender, n ephropathy and CNS involvement were associated with worse survival. Co nclusion: In SLE patients from Spain, rate of survival is similar to o ther Caucasian patients, and better than other ethnic groups of Spanis h ancestry. Other factors rather than genetic factors could explain ou r findings.