Environmental Risk Factors for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus through the Lens of Social Determinants of Health

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a serious multisystem autoimmune disease, marked by alarming sociodemographic inequities. In the U.S. and around the world, social disadvantage is strongly tied to higher prevalence, more severe disease, and poorer outcomes. A growing list of environmental exposures that contribute to the risk and incidence of SLE have been investigated and many are now established. However, these environmental exposures — including exposure to air pollution and other contaminants, lifestyle and behavioral factors, and psychological stress and distress — are not evenly distributed in any population. Individuals of lower socioeconomic status and historically minoritized groups suffer from an imbalanced burden of adverse environmental exposures. In research, clinical practice, and policy making, the strong association of social determinants of health (SDoH) with these exposures has not been given adequate spotlight. In this narrative review, we examine known associations between environmental exposures and SLE risk through the lens of SDoH, laying the foundation for future research and policies to target the environmental risk factors for SLE with awareness of the populations disproportionately affected and the contributing SDoH.