Everyday People Matter

Higher Hospitalization Rates for Lupus Interfere with Ability to Work

| Sep 15, 2014 | Applying for benefits, Lupus

When patients with lupus are admitted into a hospital for treatment of their symptoms, they may have a much higher risk of being readmitted back into the hospital within 30 days after discharge. According to a new study, as many as one in six hospitalized patients with lupus require a readmission.

One factor that contributes to the high readmission rates is the severity of the symptoms. However, there may be other factors involved. According to researchers, it is possible to reduce the risk of a readmission after hospitalization by planning the patient’s discharge better, and by addressing differences in post-discharge treatment.

Patients who suffer from lupus very often find themselves needing hospitalization. This is a condition in which the human body faces an attack by the immune system. Lupus is one of those medical conditions about which much remains unknown, which in turn makes treatment options challenging. This much is known about Lupus, however; there are genetic factors that can increase the likelihood of developing the condition.

Most treatments for Lupus involve drugs that help suppress the immune system. However, as can be expected when you try to suppress the immune system, there are a number of side effects involved, and many of them can have devastating consequences. People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to suffer from the condition, which indicates that environmental and psychosocial factors are also at work here.

Persons who suffer from lupus may be eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits. This is one of the conditions that are included in the Social Security Administration’s listing of impairments that are eligible for disability benefits. However, your lupus must be sufficiently severe for you to qualify for benefits.