Table 1.
Patient’s baseline characteristics and univariable comparisons in SLE patients complicated with invasive infection in the emergency department.
| Characteristics | Whole cohort (n = 130) | Survivors (n = 80) | Deceased (n = 50) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic | ||||
| Age on admission (year) | 42.6 ± 14.2 | 40.9 ± 13.3 | 45.3 ± 15.3 | 0.099 |
| Male sex | 12 (9.2) | 8 (10.0) | 4 (8.0) | 0.703 |
| Disease duration of SLE (year) | 6.6 ± 6.8 | 6.5 ± 7.2 | 6.7 ± 6.4 | 0.538 |
| Disease duration of infection (day) | 15.0 ± 21.7 | 14.8 ± 17.3 | 15.3 ± 27.5 | 0.284 |
| SLE activity | ||||
| SLEDAI score | 9.0 ± 5.9 | 8.4 ± 5.5 | 9.9 ± 6.4 | 0.194 |
| Lupus nephritis | 78 (60.0) | 44 (55.0) | 34 (68.0) | 0.141 |
| Neuropsychiatric lupus | 27 (20.8) | 12 (15.0) | 15 (30.0) | 0.040 |
| Pulmonary hypertension* | 27 (20.8) | 17 (21.3) | 10 (20.0) | 0.864 |
| Infection site | ||||
| Lung infection | 108 (83.1) | 65 (81.3) | 43 (86.0) | 0.482 |
| Blood stream infection | 23 (17.7) | 9 (11.3) | 14 (28.0) | 0.015 |
| Laboratory tests | ||||
| ESR >20 mm/1 h | 98/129 (76.0) | 65 (81.3) | 33/49 (67.3) | 0.073 |
| CRP elevation | 103 (79.2) | 58 (72.5) | 45 (90.0) | 0.017 |
| Lymphocyte count <800/μl | 92 (70.8) | 50 (62.5) | 42 (84.0) | 0.009 |
| Platelet count <105/μl | 55 (42.3) | 28 (35.0) | 27 (54.0) | 0.033 |
| Hypoalbuminemia (<25 g/l) | 56 (43.1) | 25 (31.3) | 31 (62.0) | 0.001 |
| Hypoglobulinemia (<20 g/l) | 12/124 (9.7) | 4/77 (5.2) | 8/47 (17.0) | 0.056 |
| Urea >7.6 mmol/l | 72/129 (55.8) | 35 (43.8) | 37/49 (75.5) | <0.001 |
| Procalcitonin >0.5 μg/l | 58/126 (46.0) | 28/77 (36.4) | 30/49 (61.2) | 0.006 |
| (1-3)-β-D-glucan >100 pg/ml | 38/121 (31.4) | 16/73 (21.9) | 22/48 (45.8) | 0.006 |
| Medication history | ||||
| Maximum prednisone-equivalent dose in the past ⩾60 mg/d | 86/126 (68.3) | 45/77 (58.4) | 41/49 (83.7) | 0.003 |
| History of immunosuppressant use in the past 6 months$ | 78 (60.0) | 43 (53.8) | 35 (70.0) | 0.066 |
| History of hydroxychloroquine use | 74 (56.9) | 50 (62.5) | 24 (48.0) | 0.104 |
| Comorbidity | ||||
| Diabetes | 21 (16.2) | 10 (12.5) | 11 (22.0) | 0.152 |
| Chronic renal insufficiency | 43 (33.1) | 23 (28.7) | 20 (40.0) | 0.185 |
| qSOFA score ⩾2‡ | 9 (6.9) | 0 (0.0) | 9 (18.0) | <0.001 |
Data are presented as mean ± SD for continuous variables and number (frequency) (%) for categorical variables.
p values of univariable comparisons of baseline characteristics between survivors and deceased are shown (Chi-squared tests or Fisher’s exact tests were used for categorical variables and independent sample t tests were used for continuous variables, as appropriate).
Pulmonary hypertension was globally judged on echocardiography by the treating physician.
Immunosuppressant use was defined as treatment with any of methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine, and rituximab.
The quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score ranges 0–3 points, with 1 point each for systolic hypotension (⩽100 mm Hg), tachypnea (⩾22/min), or altered mentation. Patients with a score ⩾2 are associated with a greater risk of death or prolonged intensive care unit stay.
CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; qSOFA, quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment; SD, standard deviation; SLE, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; SLEDAI, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index.