The Southern California Lupus Registry: I. Baseline characteristics of lupus patients in uncharted territory

Objective: This study aimed to determine the baseline characteristics of a multi-ethnic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cohort in Southern California established with the intent of addressing regional health inequity. Methods: Patients ≥18 years of age with SLE per the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria were recruited into the Southern California Lupus Registry (SCOLR) if they resided in San Bernardino and Riverside counties in California. Individuals were categorized according to their stated ethnicity as non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, Black, or Asian. Descriptive statistics were utilized for analysis. Predictors of renal disease were assessed by binomial regression. Results: The SCOLR cohort comprised 162 patients: 57 non-Hispanic White, 58 Hispanic, 17 Asian, and 30 Black. A difference in the rate of renal involvement and SLE duration was found among the four ethnic groups. Renal involvement was significantly higher in Hispanics compared with non-Hispanic Whites. Conclusion: In line with other cohorts, this study shows greater renal involvement in Hispanics than non-Hispanic Whites, demonstrating a need for more aggressive screening and early intervention to improve long-term outcomes. As a multi-ethnic SLE cohort, the SCOLR serves as a foundation for longitudinal studies addressing health inequity in this region.