Abstract: Objective To investigate the risk factors of flare in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods In this retrospective cohort study 132 cases of SLE were followed up for 1～5 years.The risk factors of SLE flare were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression with computer software,SPSS.Results Of the 132 patients,82 cases had more than one flare,the total number of flares was 115.The incidence of flare was 0.22 per patient-year.The frequency of flares within 5 years after diagnosis of SLE was higher than that in more than 5 years.By univariate logistic regression analysis the age younger than 40 years at the beginning of the study,age of disease onset younger than 32 years,stress,depression,overwork,pregnancy,suffering from infectious disease,and quick decreasing of prednisone dosage significantly increased the risk of flare(P<0.05),while menopause,regular follow up,and receiving maintenance dose of prednisone therapy decreased the risk of flare.By multivariate logistic regression analysis the quick decreasing of prednisone dosage(OR=6.85),younger age of onset of the disease(OR=5.03),infectious disease(OR=4.24),overwork(OR=3.41),stress(OR=2.70)were independent risk factors for SLE flare(P<0.05),while menopause(OR=0.14)decreased the risk of SLE flare(P<0.05).Conclusions The quick decreasing of prednisone dosage,younger age of disease onset,infectious disease,overwork,stress were important risk factors for SLE flare.The SLE patients should be advised to avoid these risk factors in order to prevent from disease flare.

Key words: Lupus erythematosus,systemic, Flare, Risk factors