Estimation of the burden of shielding among a cross section of patients attending rheumatology clinics with SLE – data from the BSR audit of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Caroline Gordon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to estimate what proportion of people with systemic lupus erythematosus attending UK rheumatology clinics would be categorised as being at high risk from COVID-19 and asked to shield, and explore what implications this has for rheumatology clinical practice. Methods: We used data from the BSR multi-centre audit of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which included a large, representative cross-sectional sample of patients attending UK Rheumatology clinics with SLE. We calculated who would receive shielding advice using the BSR’s risk stratification guidance and accompanying scoring grid, and assessed whether ethnicity and history of nephritis were over-represented in the shielding group. Results: The audit included 1003 patients from 51 centres across all 4 nations of the UK. Overall 344 (34.3%) patients had a shielding score ≥3 and would have been advised to shield. People with previous or current lupus nephritis were 2.6 (1.9-3.4) times more likely to be in the shielding group than people with no previous lupus nephritis (p<0.001). Ethnicity was not evenly distributed between the groups (chi-squared p<0.001). Compared to White people, people of Black ethnicity were 1.9 (1.3-2.8) and Asian 1.9 (1.3-2.7) times more likely to be in the shielding group. Increased risk persisted after controlling for lupus nephritis. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the large number of people with SLE who are likely to be shielding. Implications for clinical practice include considering communication across language and cultural differences, and ways to conduct renal assessment including urinalysis, during telephone and video consultations for patients who are shielding.
Original languageEnglish
JournalRheumatology
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 31 Jul 2020

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Estimation of the burden of shielding among a cross section of patients attending rheumatology clinics with SLE – data from the BSR audit of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this