Study design timeline

Study patients were required to have ≥24 months of continuous Medicaid enrolment, as well as no SLE codes (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision 710.0) for ≥24 months before the first SLE code. The third SLE code was defined as the index date. We also required ≥30 days between SLE codes. The baseline period for SLE severity and covariate assessment was the 12 months prior the index date (third SLE code). Follow-up began after the index date.