Community-Engaged Research to Address Health Disparities in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Breaking research silos to achieve equitable precision medicine in rheumatology

Health disparities in rheumatic disease are well established and urgently need addressing. Obstacles to precision medicine equity span both the clinical and the research domains, with a focus placed on structural barriers limiting equitable health care access and inclusivity in research. Less articulated factors include the use of inaccurate population descriptors and the existence of research silos in rheumatology research, which creates a knowledge gap that precludes addressing the health disparities and fulfilling the goals of precision medicine to understand the 'full patient'. The biopsychosocial model is a research framework that intertwines layers of biological and environmental effects to understand disease. However, very limited rheumatology research bridges across molecular and epidemiological studies of environmental exposures, such as physical and social determinants of health. In this Review, we discuss clinical obstacles to health care equity, including access to health care and the use of inaccurate language when labelling population groups. We explore the goals and data needed for research under the biopsychosocial model. We describe results from a rheumatic disease literature search that highlights the paucity of studies investigating the molecular influences of systemic exposures. We conclude with a list of considerations and recommendations to help achieve equitable precision medicine.

A qualitative study on opportunities to improve research engagement and inclusion of Black adults with systemic lupus erythematosus

In response to racial inequities in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we aimed to identify practical recommendations for increasing engagement and inclusion of Black adults in SLE research. We used a qualitative, interpretive description approach and recruited 30 Black adults diagnosed with SLE in Michigan to participate in semi-structured interviews. Theme development focused on what factors influenced research perceptions and how research did not meet participant needs and expectations. We developed five main themes: (1) Ethical and equitable research. Participants shared how the impacts of past and present-day racism impacted their willingness to participate in research. (2) Trusting researchers to conduct studies and translate findings to health care. Participants had concerns related to researcher intentions and expressed the importance of communicating research outcomes to participants and translating findings to health care. (3) Drug trial beneficence. When considering drug trials, several people did not consider the potential benefits worth the risk of side effects, and some said they would need to consult with their doctor before agreeing to participate. (4) Altruism. Participants explained how the desire to help others was a motivating factor for participating in research and donating biological samples. (5) Research priorities. Participants described a need for better treatments that value their overall health and well-being. Findings indicate that researchers can center the perspectives of Black people with SLE across the research life cycle-beyond a focus on adequate racial diversity among study participants.

An ecological approach to understanding and addressing health inequities of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex chronic autoimmune disease disproportionally afflicting women and, in particular, American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic women. These groups of women have significantly worse SLE-related health outcomes which are partially attributable to their exposure to marginalizing and interconnecting social issues like racism, sexism, economic inequality, and more. Although these groups of women have higher rates of SLE and though it is well known that they are at risk of exposure to marginalizing social phenomena, relatively little SLE literature explicitly links and addresses the relationship between marginalizing social issues and poor SLE-health outcomes among these women. Therefore, we developed a community-engaged partnership with two childhood-SLE diagnosed women of color to identify their perspectives on which systemic issues impacted on their SLE health-related outcomes. Afterward, we used Cochrane guidelines to conduct a rapid review associated with these identified issues and original SLE research. Then, we adapted an ecological model to illustrate the connection between systems issues and SLE health outcomes. Finally, we provided recommendations for ways to research and clinically mitigate SLE health inequities.

Addressing health disparities as a function of ethnicity in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder with significant health disparities, as it disproportionately and more severely affects vulnerable and disadvantaged population groups in the United States and around the world, that is, women, ethnic minorities, individuals living in poverty, less educated, and lacking medical insurance. Both, genetic and non-genetic factors, contribute to these disparities. To overcome these health disparities and reduce poor outcomes among disadvantaged SLE populations, interventions on non-genetic amendable factors, especially on social health determinants, are necessary.