Lupus
Lupus: one in six readmitted to hospital within 30 days of discharge
Singer Kelle Bryan is one of the 60,000 people in the UK with lupus
One in six people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the US is readmitted to hospital within 30 days of being discharged, says a study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology. Black and Hispanic people were more likely to be readmitted than white patients, the study found.
Lupus is a systemic, autoimmune disease where an overactive immune system attacks healthy joints and organs. Medical evidence reports that up to 25% of SLE patients require treatment in hospital each year, accounting for more than 140,000 hospitalisations in the US. SLE has the sixth highest rate of readmission among all medical conditions in the US according to a 2010 study. Continue reading
Lack of vitamin D could lead to increased heart disease risk in people with lupus
People with lupus who have vitamin D deficiency could be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease events, says research published in Arthritis Care & Research.
US scientists looked at data from 890 people with systemic lupus erythematosus and investigated their vitamin D levels, demographic data, disease activity, treatment choices and cardiovascular outcomes. Continue reading
UK reform essential in care of people with arthritis
Widespread reform is needed to enable high quality care planning for people in the UK with long-term conditions, such as arthritis, says a Health Committee report. The settings discussed include home, hospitals and specialist care.
Services for rheumatology patients should be maintained across all settings and cannot simply be moved into the community, according to evidence submitted to the Health Committee by The British Society for Rheumatology. The report reads: Continue reading
Exercise produces molecular changes that suppress inflammation in rheumatic disease
Taking exercise can decrease inflammation in localised regions and around the entire body, says research presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress. The study adds to the growing body of evidence that highlights that exercise can help achieve clinical efficacy in rheumatic disease.
The current work looked at the detailed physiological changes created by exercise and their impact on inflammation. Studies on mice found that exercise generates a true biological response and leads to molecular changes that stimulate anti-inflammatory effects. Continue reading
No link between lupus and vaccination – new study finding
Vaccinations do not increase a person’s risk of developing lupus, says research published in Arthritis and Rheumatology.
A total of 105 people from 36 specialist centres investigated the relationship between the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus and vaccinations. The participants were at least 60 years old and had been recently diagnosed as having either definite or probable systemic lupus erythematosus. They were compared to healthy people of the same age, sex and region. Continue reading
