16 May Study Finds Lupus Doubles Risk of Dementia
MedicalResearch.comcom Interview with:
Hui-Wen Lin MD, PHD
Department of Mathematics, Soochow University
Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University
Taipei, Taiwan
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Dr. Hui-Wen Lin: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disorder that affects multiple organ systems and it predominantly affects women aged 20 to 40 years, and clinical symptoms caused by autoantibody deposition that triggers subsequent inflammatory reactions vary between individuals. There were 30~80% of SLE patients present neurological symptoms, and it is referred to as neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE). However there is no research about risk of dementia for SLE patients. Therefore we investigated this issue by analyzing the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Dr. Hui-Wen Lin: Our study found SLE patients had 2.14 times of dementia risk with comparing non-SLE cohorts.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Dr. Hui-Wen Lin: Dementia prevention strategy should be noticed for in public health aspect and improve the quality of life among SLE patients.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Hui-Wen Lin: Further research for evaluating the association of NPSLE with dementia and the underlying pathogenic mechanisms is recommended in future.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
Increased risk of dementia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A nationwide population-based cohort study
Arthritis Care & Research
Yu-Ru Lin MD, Lin-Chuan Chou MD, Hung-Chou Chen MD, Tsan-Hon Liou MD, PHD Shih-Wei Huang MD and Hui-Wen Lin MD, PHD
DOI: 10.1002/acr.22914
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
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Last Updated on May 16, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD