BACKGROUND: The goal was to ascertain the prevalence of SLE in the population over 18 years of age in the Scandicci-Le Signe area of Florence, Italy, based on the records of general practitioners (GPs). MATERIAL/ METHODS: Twenty GPs screened 32,521 patients by administering the Lupus Screening Questionnaire (LQS) and found 30 patients with suspected or definite diagnosis of SLE. To confirm the diagnoses the patients were referred to a rheumatologist who conducted routine examinations and assessed antinuclear antibodies and SLE activity (ECLAM score). RESULTS: Total population >18 years of age in the three municipalities was 71,204 persons, with 42,474 in Scandicci, 15,368 in Lastra a Signa, and 13,362 in Signa. In 23/30 patients diagnosed with SLE the diagnosis was confirmed. Eleven of the 23 SLE patients were from Scandicci and 6 each from Lastra a Signa and Signa. An overall estimated prevalence of SLE of 71/100,000 (1/1408; 95% CI=49, 92) was found in the total population of the three municipalities. Scandicci (95% CI=42, 121) had a rate of 81/100.000, while Lastra a Signa (95% CI=32, 92) and Signa (95% CI=36, 94) had estimated rates of 62/100,000 and 65/100,000, respectively. Medium ECLAM score was 4.68+/-1.81 SD. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first epidemiological study on SLE prevalence in Italy. The prevalence and point prevalence are similar to other European studies. The LQS was also confirmed as an easy and reliable tool to assess SLE diagnosis in the Italian population.
BACKGROUND: The goal was to ascertain the prevalence of SLE in the population over 18 years of age in the Scandicci-Le Signe area of Florence, Italy, based on the records of general practitioners (GPs). MATERIAL/ METHODS: Twenty GPs screened 32,521 patients by administering the Lupus Screening Questionnaire (LQS) and found 30 patients with suspected or definite diagnosis of SLE. To confirm the diagnoses the patients were referred to a rheumatologist who conducted routine examinations and assessed antinuclear antibodies and SLE activity (ECLAM score). RESULTS: Total population >18 years of age in the three municipalities was 71,204 persons, with 42,474 in Scandicci, 15,368 in Lastra a Signa, and 13,362 in Signa. In 23/30 patients diagnosed with SLE the diagnosis was confirmed. Eleven of the 23 SLEpatients were from Scandicci and 6 each from Lastra a Signa and Signa. An overall estimated prevalence of SLE of 71/100,000 (1/1408; 95% CI=49, 92) was found in the total population of the three municipalities. Scandicci (95% CI=42, 121) had a rate of 81/100.000, while Lastra a Signa (95% CI=32, 92) and Signa (95% CI=36, 94) had estimated rates of 62/100,000 and 65/100,000, respectively. Medium ECLAM score was 4.68+/-1.81 SD. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first epidemiological study on SLE prevalence in Italy. The prevalence and point prevalence are similar to other European studies. The LQS was also confirmed as an easy and reliable tool to assess SLE diagnosis in the Italian population.
Authors: Maria Lucia Specchia; Chiara de Waure; Maria Rosaria Gualano; Andrea Doria; Giuseppe Turchetti; Lara Pippo; Francesco Di Nardo; Silvio Capizzi; Chiara Cadeddu; Flavia Kheiraoui; Luca Iaccarino; Francesca Pierotti; Ilaria Palla; Maria Assunta Veneziano; Daniela Gliubizzi; Antonella Sferrazza; Nicola Nicolotti; Rolando Porcasi; Giuseppe La Torre; Maria Luisa Di Pietro; Walter Ricciardi Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2014-08-17 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Luis Lucero-Morales; Juanita Romero-Diaz; Diana Yazmin Copado-Mendoza; María Del Carmen Zamora-Medina; Sandra Acevedo-Gallegos; Juan Manuel Gallardo-Gaona; Berenice Velazquez-Torres; Jose Antonio Ramirez-Calvo; Dulce Maria Camarena-Cabrera; Maria Jose Rodriguez-Sibaja Journal: Lupus Sci Med Date: 2021-06