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Poster Session C

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Session: (2257–2325) SLE – Diagnosis, Manifestations, & Outcomes Poster III

2284: Effect of Air Pollutant Exposure on Disease Activity of Systemic Lupus Erythematous: A Prospective Longitudinal Study from Korea

Tuesday, November 14, 2023
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM PT
Location: Poster Hall
On Demand In Person

    Abstract Poster Presenter(s)

  • JK

    Ji-Hyoun Kang, MD

    Chonnam National University Hospital
    Gwangju, South Korea

    Disclosure information not submitted.

Ji-Hyoun Kang1, Hyemin Jeong2, Sung-Eun Choi2, Dong-Jin Park2, Han Joo Baek3, Hyo-Jin Choi4, Jae Hyun Jung5 and Shin-Seok Lee2, 1Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, South Korea, 2Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, South Korea, 3Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Inchon, South Korea, 4Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea, 5Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan-si, South Korea

Background/Purpose: Exposure to air pollutants is associated with an increased risk of pulmonary and cardiovascular disease and death. Because few studies have investigated the effects of air pollution on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we investigated the association between exposure to air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), and disease activity over 1 year in a prospective, longitudinal cohort of Korean patients with SLE.

Methods: The study enrolled 386 patients from three metropolitan regions in Korea. The daily average PM10, PM2.5, NO2, CO, SO2, and O3 concentrations were measured using portable air quality monitors and data from the National Ambient Air Monitoring System. Disease activity was evaluated using the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and Physician Global Assessment (PGA), every 3 months for 1 year. Lupus flares, a damage index, and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) scores were also assessed. A generalized estimating equation was used to evaluate the impact of air pollutants on clinical outcomes, including disease activity.

Results: Changes in PM10 and PM2.5 were significantly associated with changes in SLEDAI-2K scores of > 8 over 1 year in SLE patients (β = 0.097, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.048–0.146, p < 0.001; β = 0.100, 95% CI: 0.054–0.146, p < 0.001, respectively). Changes in PM10 and PM2.5 were also significantly associated with the development of lupus flares (β = 1.603, 95% CI: 1.067–2.408, p = 0.023; β = 1.777, 95% CI: 1.048–3.011, p = 0.033, respectively). However, there were no significant associations between the changes in NO2, CO, SO2, and O3 and lupus activity.

Conclusion: In this study, PM10 and PM2.5 exposure increased disease activity and the risk of lupus flares in SLE patients living in metropolitan regions.


J. Kang: None; H. Jeong: None; S. Choi: None; D. Park: None; H. Baek: None; H. Choi: None; J. Jung: None; S. Lee: None.