Experiences and unmet needs of persons living with systemic lupus erythematosus in Europe: Lupus Europe's 2024 Swiss knife survey

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with important variations in disease burden across patients and European countries. In response to previous surveys revealing the burden of SLE on patients, Lupus Europe conducted the 2024 'Swiss Knife' survey to further investigate disease burden, treatment goals, and patient-physician interactions in European patients living with lupus. Between April and May 2024, 4525 patients with self-reported physician-confirmed SLE across 36 European countries participated in an anonymous online study. Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze responses related to SLE symptoms, treatment satisfaction, and unmet needs. Results indicated that fatigue (84.9 %), joint pain (72.8 %), and muscle pain (62.6 %) were the most prevalent symptoms, with fatigue notably under-addressed in treatment plans. The mean lupus burden score was high at 6.94 (SD: 1.95) on the 0-10 scale, highlighting a significant impact on quality of life, particularly in terms of fatigue and physical consequences. Notably, only 7.9 % of participants reported no disease flares in the past five years, contrasting with previous literature on remission rates. In terms of treatment goals, patients favored achieving low disease activity or remission without treatment, while satisfaction with current therapies was moderate, with 67.5 % expressing contentment but many indicating unmet needs, particularly regarding fatigue management and access to non-pharmacological therapies. The findings of Lupus Europe's 2024 Swiss Knife study underscore the necessity for improved communication between patients and healthcare professionals and the integration of patient-centered strategies to optimize SLE management and enhance quality of life across Europe.

Keywords: Disease burden; Fatigue; Patient-physician interactions; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Treatment goals.