Jorge AM, et al. - Patients with SLE have increased morbidity and premature mortality. This general population–based cohort study represents an attempt to know if this mortality gap has improved in recent years, as in RA. Unlike RA during the same period, no improvement in excess mortality among SLE patients has been reported in recent years, rather it continued to be greater than double that of comparators. This underscores a critical unmet need for the development of new therapeutic agents and improved management strategies for SLE and its comorbidities.