Epidemiology of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Brazil: analysis of regional disparities in mortality (2013-2023).

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease with a complex and partially elucidated pathophysiology. It represents a significant challenge for patients living with the disease and for those seeking to understand it. The objective was to analyze regional disparities in mortality based on the epidemiology of LES in Brazil between 2013 and 2023. Data from the Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS) were used, which then were compiled in Microsoft Excel® and analyzed with the help of SPSS v.26®, Joinpoint regression Program 5.0.22®, and Minitab 21.2® software. The results revealed a total of approximately 20,000 cases with a marked predominance of young women and brown-skinned people. The total number of deaths increased, but the fatality rate did not change in proportion to expectations. There was a predominance of cases identified in the Southeast, South, and part of the Northeast compared to the North and Midwest. A higher number of cases was identified in patients according to race, income, and residence, with brown or black individuals and lower-income social groups having worse outcomes. The results reinforce the need for public policies that bring healthcare closer to all regions, expand epidemiological surveillance, and promote early diagnosis. Without these measures, SLE will continue to reflect not only a clinical challenge but also a historical portrait of Brazilian inequalities.