Azizoddin DR, et al. - Data were obtained from the University of California at San Francisco Lupus Outcomes Study (n=728) by the researchers in order to evaluate whether patient-reported outcomes (PROs) prognosticated mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Nearly 92% of cases were women and 68.5% were white. Seventy-one deaths were noted. Both the Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) physical component subscale score and self-rated health had a correlation with mortality, whereas, the SF-36 mental health subscale and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale scores had no association with mortality. After controlling for all other covariates, lower scores of SF-36 physical function at baseline data independently prognosticated mortality. Hence, even after accounting for demographics (including poverty) and disease (duration, activity, and damage), patient-reported physical function independently prognosticated mortality in SLE. Since PROs are easy to assess, they could be utilized to triage, track, and guide early interventions for those at high risk of mortality in SLE.