Table 2.

Results of Lag Times and Delay Among the 300 Patients That Were Interviewed. Delay is Defined as a Time Period Greater Than 1 Month

Variables		Count	%
Total		300	100.0
(Lag 1) Time from start of symptoms to visiting a medical professional.	No delay	201	67.0
	Delay	99	33.0
Time from start of symptoms to visiting a medical professional.	Less than 1 month	201	67.0
	1–6 months	72	24.0
	More than 6 months	27	9.0
(Lag 2) The duration from the aforementioned consultation to the first visit to a rheumatologist.	No delay	103	34.3
	Delay	197	65.7
The duration from the aforementioned consultation to the first visit to a rheumatologist.	Less than 1 month	103	34.3
	1–6 months	122	40.7
	More than 6 months	75	25.0
(Lag 3) The period from the first visit to a rheumatologist to the confirmation of diagnosis.	No delay	215	71.7
	Delay	85	28.3
The period from the first visit to a rheumatologist to the confirmation of diagnosis.	Less than 1 month	215	71.7
	1–6 months	56	18.7
	More than 6 months	29	9.7
(Lag 4) The time from the diagnosis of SLE to the start of treatment.	No delay	283	94.3
	Delay	17	5.7
Delay in confirming diagnosis of SLE (lag 1 to 3)	No delay	53	17.7
	With delay	247	82.3
The time from the diagnosis of SLE to the start of treatment.	Less than 1 month	283	94.3
	1–6 months	13	4.3
	More than 6 months	4	1.3