Research has been carried out to examine the impact of cumulative smoking in pack-years on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cutaneous manifestations and damage.

The study included 632 adult SLE patients at an academic center, meeting 1997 ACR or 2012 SLICC classification criteria. Outcomes were: (1) cutaneous SLICC Damage Index (SDI), (2) ACR and SLICC criteria. Smoking exposure was defined as low (<5 pack-years), medium (5–10), and high (>10), compared to non-smokers. Analysis used multivariable logistic regression to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals (OR, (95% CI)). . Smokers exhibited trends between pack-year and skin damage.

Conclusions: Smoking was an independent risk factor for cutaneous SLE. High pack-year exposure and non-White race increased chronic skin manifestations and SDI damage. Findings suggested a dose relationship between smoking and cutaneous SLE damage, making stopping smoking important to potentially improve outcomes and reduce some disparities.

For the full study please click here.

Professor David D’Cruz talks about smoking and lupus.