The leading cause of death for lupus patients tends to not be lupus itself, but cardiovascular disease. In fact, a 2024 study on the causes of deaths for individuals with lupus reported that cardiovascular disease was the cause for approximately one-third of the 135 deaths the researchers recorded over a ten year period.
Kidney disease, specifically when related to lupus nephritis, is also another common cause of death. A 2020 issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases states that within five years of lupus nephritis onset, 5% to 25% of lupus patient deaths were attributable to kidney disease.
Serious infections resulting from lupus weakening the immune system can also become fatal, with a 2023 literature review attributing approximately one-third of lupus deaths to bacterial, viral, fungal, and other dangerous infections.
These numbers may seem disheartening. Certainly, it is undeniable that lupus patients face a much higher proportion of mortality than the general population and that there are certain disparities within that proportion. However, it is almost important to keep in mind that science is always evolving. That is, the adoption of vaccinations, new preventative measures, improved rheumatology care, and superior management of infections like COVID-19 have greatly reduced the rate of death amongst lupus patients. As new developments come out in lupus research, these discouraging statistics may see drops. Read more about how lupus research has developed here.
