What is the life expectancy for systemic lupus erythematosus?

The 1-year survival rate for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is above 96%, the 5-year survival rate remains above 90%, the 15-year survival rate has exceeded 80%, and the 30-year survival rate can still reach more than 70%. This indicates that most patients can survive for a long time after receiving effective treatment.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease, and its impact on patients' lifespan varies from person to person, mainly depending on the severity of the disease, the timeliness and effectiveness of treatment, and management of complications. Following effective treatment, the 5-year survival rate of SLE patients can exceed 90%, and the 10-year survival rate is also above 80%. This means that most SLE patients can achieve a lifespan close to that of the general population. However, for patients whose conditions are poorly controlled or who develop severe complications such as renal failure or heart disease, the prognosis may be worse. Patients with mild disease and timely, standardized treatment may have a longer lifespan, even without affecting normal life expectancy. Conversely, for patients with severe disease who do not receive timely treatment, survival time may be shortened. Additionally, a patient's lifespan can be influenced by multiple factors including serum creatinine levels, hypertension, myocardial damage, lupus encephalopathy, and infections.