6th May 2025

Global Survey from World Lupus Federation Finds Nearly Half of People with Lupus Report Kidney Involvement

 New data highlights urgent need for improved education and diagnosis of lupus nephritis (lupus-related kidney disease), a serious complication of lupus

The Lupus Association of NSW, through the World Lupus Federation, is sharing new findings from its 2025 global survey focused on lupus nephritis (lupus-related kidney disease).

More than 3,200 people with lupus from 84 countries participated in the survey, with more than 85% of respondents reporting that they had experienced common lupus nephritis symptoms, yet only 47% of respondents reporting their kidneys were affected because of lupus. The survey findings point to a clear and urgent need for greater education, awareness, and proactive care.

Here are just a few key takeaways:

• More than 43% of respondents reported having little or no knowledge about lupus nephritis.
• More than 1 in 3 with lupus nephritis have not had a kidney biopsy, the gold standard for diagnosing lupus nephritis.
• Nearly 3 in 4 who did not report kidney involvement still said they've experienced at least one common symptom, like protein in the urine (proteinuria).

We invite you to take a closer look at the survey results in our press release and view the topline summary and detailed survey results.

This data reinforces the importance of raising our collective voice, improving education, and ensuring that every person living with lupus has the information and tools they need to protect their health.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to advance lupus research, awareness, education, and advocacy.