Prevalence, Demographics, and Mortality/Morbidity of Thrombotic Events: A nationwide study of SLE patients in the United States

Background: Thromboembolic events (TE) cause significant morbidity and mortality in SLE patients. Comprehensive data on various types of thromboembolic events and their variation by gender, region, and hospital status are scant. Objective: To analyze the epidemiology, morbidity, mortality, and risk factors (e.g., obesity, smoking) of thromboembolic events in SLE. Methods: Data from the NIS (2003–2018) were analyzed using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes to identify patients diagnosed with SLE. SAS-9.4 was used for data analysis. TE variables include DVT, PE, Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), Splanchnic thrombosis (ST), and Arterial Thrombosis (AT). Results: Among 513,904 SLE patients, PE, DVT, ST, CVST, and AT were identified in 7,070 (1.38%), 15,800 (3.07%), 6,868 (1.34%), 197 (0.04%), and 1,821 (0.35%) patients, respectively. The prevalence of PE, DVT, ST, and AT is higher in males with SLE. African Americans (29.55% of the cohort) demonstrated a higher prevalence of PE (2,188, 1.6%) and DVT (5,208, 3.46%). The prevalence of obesity was higher in SLE patients with all thrombotic events, except in AT, which had a significantly lower prevalence. A significantly higher all-cause in-hospital mortality, longer LOS, and cost of stay were seen in SLE with thrombotic events (except CVST). Conclusion: Arterial, venous, and atypical thrombosis exert significant morbidity and mortality in patients with SLE. The disparities in thrombotic events within the SLE population underscore the importance of targeted interventions to reduce substantial morbidity and healthcare expenditures.