Race and gender differences in systemic sclerosis: a retrospective multicenter cohort

Abstract

Race and gender differences in systemic sclerosis: a retrospective multicenter cohort Dear Editor, Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem autoimmune disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) is characterized by cutaneous sclerosis of the distal extremities and face, whereas diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) also involves the proximal extremities and trunk. From a systemic perspective, gastrointestinal (GI) involvement is common in both lcSSc and dcSSc, pulmonary arterial hypertension is more likely in lcSSc, and both interstitial lung disease (ILD) and renal involvement occur more often in dcSSc. Given this wide range of potential manifestations, it is important to understand how SSc presents in different subgroups. This study sought to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with SSc relative to race and gender.Statistically significant P values < 0.05 are indicated in bold. GI, gastrointestinal; ILD, interstitial lung disease; PAH, pulmonary arterial hypertension; SSc, systemic sclerosis. * Information regarding SSc type was not available for all patients.

Racial and ethnic associations with interstitial lung disease and healthcare utilization in patients with systemic sclerosis

“…11 Furthermore, the differential prevalence of SSc-ILD is demonstrated within multi-racial/ethnic cohorts. [12][13][14] Black/African American race has been associated with a lower forced vital capacity (FVC), 15 an increased odds of restrictive lung disease (RLD), 16 and pulmonary fibrosis (PF). 9 Despite these findings, some of these results are limited by sample size and SSc subtype, 15 or lung disease severity, 9 adjustment for important covariates, 14 and the numbers of different racial/ethnic groups compared.…”

“…[12][13][14] Black/African American race has been associated with a lower forced vital capacity (FVC), 15 an increased odds of restrictive lung disease (RLD), 16 and pulmonary fibrosis (PF). 9 Despite these findings, some of these results are limited by sample size and SSc subtype, 15 or lung disease severity, 9 adjustment for important covariates, 14 and the numbers of different racial/ethnic groups compared. 12 SSc-ILD is known to be a principal cause of hospitalization, 6 with increased healthcare utilization in patients with ILD, 17 but there has been limited assessment of the impact of racial/ethnic differences on clinical outcomes such as emergency department (ED) visits, 18 and hospitalizations.…”