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We assessed the prevalence and incidence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in 2010 in adults from four cities in Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. Individuals with SLE were identified retrospectively from the medical records of specialized centers. Prevalent SLE patients were nondeceased city residents, diagnosed prior to December 31, 2010; incident patients were residents newly diagnosed between January 1 and December 31, 2010. Population size was obtained from official census data. The observed prevalence rates (per 100,000, 95% CI) were 9.0 (7.1-11.2) in Kursk and Yaroslavl, Russian Federation; Kazakhstan; in Vinnitsa, Ukraine. The cumulative incidence rates (per 100,000, 95% CI) were 1.4 (0.7-2.4); 1.6 (0.4-4.1) and 0.3 (0.0-1.8), correspondingly. All rates were higher among females compared to males, and incidence peaked in the population aged 25-44. These rates appear slightly lower than those reported from Western Europe and the USA. This could be because of study design (case-ascertainment), local health care practices or true differences in disease risk. Case age and sex distribution was similar to the known epidemiology of SLE. The rates were highest in Kazakhstan, likely because of a predominantly ethnic Asian population. Lupus (2014) 23, 213-219.

Specialist visits are the most frequently consumed SLE-related healthcare recourse in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. A relapsing-remitting SLE profile and the occurrence of flares significantly raise healthcare resource consumption.

The long-term follow-up in the study has showed that repeated courses of anti-B-cell therapy with RTM have a positive effect both on SLE activity and generally on the renal process. The reduction of the morphologic class of LN as assessed in the repeated renal biopsies is a convincing proof for this. Eleven out of 16 patients experienced transition of the morphologic class into a more favourable type, which in most cases was combined with lower AI (p = 0.006). We found no evidence of increase in the CI (p = 0.14).

ObjectivesTo describe disease characteristics and treatment regimens for adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with autoantibody positive disease in three countries (the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Republic of Kazakhstan).MethodsThe ESSENCE study was a 1-year, retrospective, multicentre, observational study. Data included patients’ characteristics, disease activity and severity, and healthcare resource use in 2010.ResultsTwelve centres enrolled 436 eligible patients: 232 in Russia, 110 in Kazakhstan and 94 in Ukraine. Mean age ranged from 36 to 42 years and median SLE duration from 3 to 6.8 years. According to study definitions, 69.2% of patients in Russia, 72.7% in Kazakhstan and 55.4% in Ukraine had severe disease at diagnosis. SLE activity (Nasonova classification, 1972) decreased from diagnosis to the last visit in 2010 in all countries. At the last visit, mean (SD) Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment–Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index score was 13.8 (10.5) in Russia, 19.4 (16.9) in Kazakhstan and 7.2 (6.8) in Ukraine, and Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index was 2.0 (2.2), 3.3 (3.2) and 2.2 (2.0), respectively. Treatment regimens included predominantly glucocorticoids (96.7–99.1%), immunosuppressants or cytotoxic drugs, for example, azathioprine and cyclophosphamide (20.7–53.2%), and antimalarial drugs (18.3–40.8%).ConclusionsThe study provides reliable insight into the SLE clinical profiles in the referenced countries. Patients were 4–10 years younger in the study and had 3–7 years shorter SLE duration than in Western European countries and both SLE activity and severity were higher with higher rate of hospitalisations, but decreased during treatment. Local and international scales demonstrated correlation in SLE activity and organ damage evaluation. There were differences in clinical characteristics and healthcare features across the countries.