Med Page Today reports that in a study published in ACR Open Rheumatology, 30 older adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with a mean age of 71.3 years reported a sense of social isolation and a reluctance to burden loved ones -- realities that could justify an uptick in screening for isolation, investigators concluded.

First author Sarah Lieber, MD, MS, a rheumatologist at HSS, explained that screening for isolation could help improve care. Once this information is obtained, it is important for the clinician to be able to point to tangible resources. Resources may include local lupus support groups or an individualized referral to another member of the care team such as a social worker. It is also valuable to consider the extent to which social isolation reflects a response to lupus symptoms that can be addressed through further treatments.

Read the full article at medpagetoday.com.