Table 1 Detailed comparison of the studied population according to the distribution by region (N = 300)

Age, mean (SD)

41.9 (12.8)

41.1 (12.5)

40.5 (10.8)

37.2 (11.5)

43.5 (14.5)

47.1 (12.4)

< 0.001

Female, n (%)

277 (92.3)

54 (90.0)

58 (98.3)

56 (93.3)

54 (90.0)

54 (90.0)

Race/color, n (%)*

< 0.001

 White

76 (25.3)

10 (16.7)

10 (16.7)

5 (8.3)

16 (26.7)

35 (58.3)

 Black

56 (18.7)

19 (31.7)

4 (6.7)

1 (1.7)

19 (31.7)

13 (21.7)

 Others

7 (2.3)

2 (3.3)

1 (1.7)

1 (1.7)

2 (3.3)

1 (1.7)

 Multiracial

161 (53.7)

29 (48.3)

45 (75.0)

53 (88.3)

23 (38.3)

11 (18.3)

Employment, n (%)

0.020

 Active

79 (26.3)

15 (25.0)

17 (28.3)

11 (18.3)

20 (33.3)

16 (26.7)

 Retired or sick leave due to SLE

100 (33.3)

17 (28.3)

12 (20.0)

25 (41.7)

22 (36.7)

24 (40.0)

 Unemployed

65 (21.7)

17 (28.3)

10 (16.7)

16 (26.7)

12 (20.0)

10 (16.7)

 Others

56 (18.7)

11 (18.3)

21 (35.0)

8 (13.3)

6 (10.0)

10 (16.7)

Marital status, n (%)

0.398

 Married or in a stable union

147 (49.0)

33 (55.0)

32 (53.3)

29 (48.3)

25 (41.7)

28 (46.7)

 Single

106 (35.3)

20 (33.3)

24 (40.0)

20 (33.3)

23 (38.3)

19 (31.7)

 Others

47 (15.7)

7 (11.7)

4 (6.7)

11 (18.3)

12 (20.0)

13 (21.7)

Access to care and patient journey

 Time between the first symptoms and confirmation of the disease, years, mean (SD)

2.02 (3.70)

1.58 (2.75)

2.63 (3.85)

1.18 (1.87)

1.94 (2.96)

2.83 (5.91)

0.091

 Time between onset of symptoms and start of treatment, months, mean (SD)

21.6 (39.6)

16.4 (28.2)

26.0 (35.2)

16.9 (30.2)

17.6 (24.7)

31.4 (65.6)

0.158

 Travel time from home to facility, hours, mean (SD)

4.4 (12.6)

3.52 (4.3)

1.7 (1.3)

11.5 (25.4)

3.7 (8.3)

1.80 (1.7)

< 0.001

 Missing medical appointments due to any reason, study period, mean (SD)

0.72 (1.3)

0.46 (10.9)

0.35 (0.9)

0.7 (1.1)

1.7 (1.8)

0.3 (0.8)

< 0.001

 Number of medications per day, mean (SD)

6.59 (3.9)

3.92 (2.5)

6.0 (2.7)

6.2 (2.4)

8.5 (3.7)

8.3 (5.3)

< 0.001

 Time between confirmation of the disease and the first visit to the rheumatologist, mean (SD)

7.00 (17.10)

8.52 (20.4)

7.92 (18.0)

4.39 (14.2)

10.12 (20.0)

3.97 (10.4)

0.213

 Hospitalization, n (%)

43 (14.3)

4 (6.7)

12 (20.0)

5 (8.3)

8 (13.3)

14 (23.3)

0.037

 Emergency unit visit, n (%)

84 (28.0)

15 (25.0)

14 (23.3)

18 (30.0)

21 (35.0)

16 (26.7)

0.636

Schooling

 Stopped school education due to SLE, n (%)

46 (15.3)

9 (15.0)

6 (10.0)

15 (25.0)

7 (11.7)

9 (15.0)

0.047

 Years of schooling, years, mean (SD)

11.37 (4.65)

10.55 (3.42)

11.17 (4.74)

14.20 (3.64)

11.87 (5.59)

9.05 (4.06)

< 0.001

Income status related to disease

 Total household income, mean (SD), Brazilian currency

2656.03

(2121.94)

2463.60 (1608.02)

2220.78 (1626.55)

2697.15 (2083.41)

3160.07 (3068.51)

2717.63 (1793.36)

0.173

 Loss of working days in the last 12 months, n (%)

67 (22.3)

15 (25.0)

16 (26.7)

7 (11.7)

13 (21.7)

16 (26.7)

0.24

 Salary discount in the last 12 months due to SLE, n (%)

24 (8.0)

3 (5.0)

4 (6.7)

3 (5.0)

5 (8.3)

9 (15.0)

0.23

 Performs paid work, n (%)

83 (27.7)

15 (25.0)

18 (30.0)

12 (20.0)

21 (35.0)

17 (28.3)

0.439

 Loss of productivity related to activities of daily living, mean (SD)

5.17 (3.61)

6.22 (3.55)

5.40 (3.57)

4.87 (3.44)

4.48 (3.76)

4.90 (3.59)

0.083

 Contemplated by government program due to SLE, n (%)

52 (17.3)

14 (23.3)

13 (21.7)

12 (20.0)

7 (11.7)

6 (10.0)

0.186

Clinical and treatment variables

SLE Classification Criteria (ACR, 1997), n (%)

 Malar rash

166 (55.3)

21 (35.0)

36 (60.0)

49 (81.7)

25 (41.7)

35 (58.3)

< 0.001

 Discoid rash

58 (19.3)

11 (18.3)

13 (21.7)

14 (23.3)

15 (25.0)

5 (8.3)

0.149

 Photosensitivity

180 (60.0)

19 (31.7)

42 (70.0)

53 (88.3)

27 (45.0)

39 (65.0)

< 0.001

 Oral ulcers

71 (23.7)

9 (15.0)

13 (21.7)

14 (23.3)

17 (28.3)

18 (30.0)

0.321

 Nonerosive arthritis

221 (73.7)

24 (40.0)

52 (86.7)

53 (88.3)

48 (80.0)

44 (73.3)

< 0.001

 Pleuritis or Pericarditis

65 (21.7)

3 (5.0)

14 (23.3)

17 (28.3)

16 (26.7)

15 (25.0)

0.012

 Renal disorder

141 (47.0)

16 (26.7)

23 (38.3)

42 (70.0)

30 (50.0)

30 (50.0)

< 0.001

 Neurologic Disorder

33 (11.0)

3 (5.0)

6 (10.0)

8 (13.3)

10 (16.7)

6 (10.0)

0.327

 Hematologic disorder

140 (46.7)

11 (18.3)

36 (60.0)

23 (38.3)

32 (53.3)

38 (63.3)

< 0.001

 Immunologic disorder

190 (63.3)

35 (58.3)

40 (66.7)

32 (53.3)

35 (58.3)

48 (80.0)

0.023

 Positive Antinuclear Antibody

208 (69.3)

26 (43.3)

57 (95.0)

60 (100.0)

57 (95.0)

58 (96.7)

< 0.001

Multiple morbidities, n (%)

 Hypertension

156 (52.0)

28 (46.7)

23 (38.3)

43 (71.7)

30 (50.0)

32 (53.3)

0.006

 Obesity

56 (18.7)

6 (10.0)

12 (20.0)

7 (11.7)

16 (26.7)

15 (25.0)

0.059

 Smoking

30 (10.0)

9 (15.0)

2 (3.3)

0 (0.0)

5 (8.3)

14 (23.3)

< 0.001

 Alcoholism

21 (7.0)

9 (15.0)

1 (1.7)

0 (0.0)

7 (11.7)

4 (6.7)

0.002

 History of tuberculosis

27 (9.0)

1 (1.7)

3 (5.0)

5 (8.3)

12 (20.0)

6 (10.0)

0.007

Damage accrual– SDI, n (%)

1.42 (1.7)

0.75 (1.0)

1.53 (1.7)

1.22 (1.5)

2.62 (2.2)

1.00 (1.1)

< 0.001

SLEDAI score, mean (SD)

4.33 (5.4)

4.48 (6.1)

2.57 (4.2)

5.05 (4.8)

6.43 (6.3)

3.13 (4.4)

< 0.001

Health-related quality of life (SF-12), mean (SD)

 Physical component

37.8 (10.2)

37.6 (9.8)

37.9 (10.0)

37.5 (10.5)

38.4 (9.9)

37.8 (10.9)

0.99

 Mental component

40.2 (11.2)

41.3 (11.6)

41.6 (10.2)

39.8 (10.8)

38.3 (11.2)

40.1 (12.3)

0.514

General medicines used during the study period, n (%)

 Folic acid

58 (19.3)

11 (18.3)

22 (36.7)

10 (16.7)

9 (15.0)

6 (10.0)

0.003

 Antiplatelet aggregant or anticoagulant

73 (24.3)

3 (5.0)

19 (31.7)

16 (26.7)

21 (35.0)

14 (23.3)

0.001

 Drug for delipidemia

81 (27.0)

6 (10.0)

17 (28.3)

22 (36.7)

21 (35.0)

15 (25.0)

0.005

 Diabetes medication

16 (5.3)

1 (1.7)

7 (11.7)

2 (3.3)

5 (8.3)

1 (1.7)

0.05

 Antihypertensive

173 (57.7)

19 (31.7)

30 (50.0)

45 (75.0)

37 (61.7)

42 (70.0)

< 0.001

 Antimalarial

202 (67.3)

24 (40.0)

35 (58.3)

38 (63.3)

52 (86.7)

53 (88.3)

< 0.001

 Antimicrobial

41 (13.7)

1 (1.7)

16 (26.7)

15 (25.0)

4 (6.7)

5 (8.3)

< 0.001

 Calcium or vitamin D or anti-osteoporosis medication

175 (58.3)

7 (11.7)

42 (70.0)

48 (80.0)

46 (76.7)

32 (53.3)

< 0.001

 Anti-digitalis

76 (25.3)

10 (16.7)

14 (23.3)

20 (33.3)

15 (25.0)

17 (28.3)

0.305

 Corticoid

200 (66.7)

34 (56.7)

50 (83.3)

58 (96.7)

38 (63.3)

20 (33.3)

< 0.001

 Gastrointestinal medicine

88 (29.3)

3 (5.0)

19 (31.7)

25 (41.7)

16 (26.7)

25 (41.7)

< 0.001

 Thyroid hormone

29 (9.7)

3 (5.0)

10 (16.7)

4 (6.7)

4 (6.7)

8 (13.3)

0.159

 Sunscreen

19 (6.3)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

15 (25.0)

4 (6.7)

< 0.001

 Psychotropic or antidepressant or anticonvulsant

101 (33.7)

8 (13.3)

28 (46.7)

18 (30.0)

16 (26.7)

31 (51.7)

< 0.001

 Immunobiological

22 (7.3)

9 (15.0)

6 (10.0)

2 (3.3)

3 (5.0)

2 (3.3)

0.058

 Immunosuppressant

213 (71.0)

28 (46.7)

44 (73.3)

47 (78.3)

50 (83.3)

44 (73.3)

< 0.001

Immunosuppressors or biological medicines most used, n (%)

 Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine

222 (74.0)

33 (55.0)

42 (70.0)

39 (65.0)

53 (88.3)

55 (91.7)

< 0.001

 Mycophenolate mofetil

90 (30.0)

2 (3.3)

15 (25.0)

27 (45.0)

29 (48.3)

17 (28.3)

< 0.001

 Azathioprine

77 (25.7)

12 (20.0)

12 (20.0)

15 (25.0)

15 (25.0)

23 (38.3)

0.131

 Methotrexate

48 (16.0)

12 (20.0)

17 (28.3)

5 (8.3)

7 (11.7)

7 (11.7)

0.019

 Cyclophosphamide

27 (9.0)

7 (11.7)

2 (3.3)

11 (18.3)

4 (6.7)

3 (5.0)

0.029

 Cyclosporine

6 (2.0)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

2 (3.3)

4 (6.7)

0 (0.0)

0.025

 Rituximab

11 (3.7)

1 (1.7)

4 (6.7)

3 (5.0)

2 (3.3)

1 (1.7)

0.648

 Belimumab

13 (4.3)

11 (18.3)

2 (3.3)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

< 0.001

 Tacrolimus

1 (0.3)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

1 (1.7)

0 (0.0)

1.000