Study: Black People with Lupus May Have Higher Risk for Stroke and Heart Disease

2 min read

New information sheds more light on the relationship between race and lupus and invites Black people with lupus to talk to their doctors about their risk of heart disease and stroke.

We have long known that lupus is more common in people of color compared to white people. According to research compiled by the Lupus Foundation of America, 1 in 537 young Black women have lupus, and they are more likely to develop the disease earlier in life than non-Black women. Additionally, Black people with lupus are more likely than their white counterparts to have more severe disease and less social support. Worse, Black people with lupus are also more likely to die from the disease.^1,2

Racial differences in diseases are most often due to the effects of discrimination, which leads to unhealthy stress for people of color. People of color also tend to have less access to community support, a healthy and safe living environment, and affordable healthcare – all things that can present huge challenges to health.³

Unfortunately, Black people with lupus may have yet another reason to worry: possible increased risk of heart disease and stroke.³

Study shows an increased risk of heart disease

A study of people with lupus in Georgia found that Black people’s risk of stroke was 3 times higher than that of non-Black study participants. Also, their risk of developing heart disease was 24 times higher.³

The study also found some clues about how to know if a person had a higher risk of stroke or heart disease.

In all study participants, renal (kidney) disorder and discoid rash tended to come before a stroke. A discoid rash is a known symptom of lupus that can cause round red or pink patches that can be raw, blistered, or scaly. It can also show up as a change in skin’s pigment (color), hair loss, or brittle fingernails. Talk to a rheumatologist or dermatologist if you experience this, especially if you are Black.³

People who had heart disease were often diagnosed with neurologic (brain-related) or immunologic disorders before they were diagnosed with heart disease.³

What can we do to protect heart health?

Black people with lupus are at risk for more severe symptoms of lupus in general, but this new information makes it especially important to talk to a doctor about prevention and screening for heart disease. The usual advice also stands: Exercise regularly, eat a heart-healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and cut back on saturated fat (the kind found in fatty red meats and fried foods).³

Another way to show love for your heart is to put down the salt shaker. Reducing sodium in your diet can also help to control your blood pressure and keep your kidneys in good shape. This, in turn, will help to protect your cardiovascular health.

Another part of the prevention puzzle is talking to your doctors about this risk. Ask if you need to be screened for heart disease. It is important to catch any problems early and start the treatment you need as soon as possible. Also, talk to your doctor about your current lifestyle: What do you like to eat? Are you stressed out? Can you fit some extra exercise into your life? Figuring out what you can do to prevent heart disease and stroke can help you lower your risk in small ways that add up.³

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Christopher Reed Moderator & Contributor
I had the honor of participating in this study .My cardiologists are amazed that I do not meet the criteria for heart disease or vascular disease given the length of time of my drug treatment and the amount of times that I have lived with lupus, and particularly pericarditis and plural effusion. My grandfather died of Pericarditis, inflammation in the lining of the heart. Once my family learned of my diagnosis, we all began to think that grandpa had lupus. We will never know. Grandpa never went to the doctor or the hospital until his last breath. His belief, hospitals are where you go to die probably because that was the case in his generation, a stigma created by Jim Crow laws. I most also point out my experiences with the investigators on this project. They will be focusing their epidemiological efforts on southwest Georgia in the coming months. The reason, the Lupus Foundation estimates 55,000 Georgian who live witih lupus, contrasted by the 103 rheumatology clinicians treating patients. In southwest Georgia which makes up 39 counties, there are on 4 rheumatologists. Given that 70 percent of rheumatologist practice in metro Atlanta, southwest Georgia and other rural parts are left to fend for themselves. The wait time in southwest Georgia is about 4 months. Patients who need more frequent appointments must either travel 1 hour to west Georgia where there is one rheumatologist or 4 hours to Atlanta. Southwest Georgia is primarily black and the poorest area of Georgia. Southwest Georgia also does not have broadband which prevents some areas in the region access to telemedicine equipment. The investigators and myself are working on what has been now a 3 year project to bring telemedicine to southwest Georgia and establish a lupus registry in the region. The reason for this study is to treat uninsured and underinsured patients with lupus. The focus is also to begin establishing a database so that we can more accurately determine the numbers of lupus patients in the region. With telemedicine and the registry, we can better understand why there is a disparity between access to proper healthcare for black patients versus access to healthcare for white patients. If we go further, we will understand why blacks have more severe symptoms of lupus and a high mortality rate. With early interview, early diagnosis, and early treatment, patients have better outcomes. Chris Reed. <a href='https://lupus.net' target='_blank'>Lupus.net</a> Team