Philadelphia, PA — July 22, 2026 — Polygon Health Analytics announced the publication of a new peer-reviewed study in Lupus Science & Medicine that demonstrates how artificial intelligence (AI) and social media listening can be used to better understand the real-world experiences and unmet needs of people living with systemic lupus erythematosus.
The study, “Harnessing AI and Social Media to Understand Real-World Patient Experiences in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,” analyzed 2,603 lupus-related Reddit posts using large language models (LLMs) to identify themes within patient-generated narratives. The findings revealed significant unmet needs related to diagnosis, symptom burden, emotional well-being, treatment management, healthcare access, and care coordination.
Key findings include:
- 84.1% of posts involved advice seeking, highlighting patients' reliance on online communities for information and support.
- 55.6% reflected emotional coping, including expressions of distress, hope, resilience, and frustration.
- Common discussions centered on pain, fatigue, flares, and multisystem symptoms.
- Many posts described diagnostic uncertainty, challenges interpreting laboratory results, and difficulties navigating care.
- Treatment conversations frequently focused on effectiveness, side effects, and treatment complexity.
The study developed and validated an AI-enabled framework for analyzing large volumes of unstructured patient narratives, demonstrating how social media data can complement traditional patient-experience research and support patient-centered evidence generation.
The publication also marks the first peer-reviewed scientific paper produced through Polygon Health Analytics' LaunchPad Program, a hands-on training initiative designed to develop the next generation of healthcare data scientists. The research team included undergraduate and master's students Jess Otoo, Carina Hawryluk, James Liu, and Nikki Eckert, who worked alongside experienced researchers and clinical collaborators throughout the project.
“This publication is meaningful for two reasons,” said Lixia Yao, PhD, Founder and CEO of Polygon Health Analytics and corresponding author of the study. “It demonstrates how AI can help uncover patient experiences at scale while also showcasing what emerging talent can achieve with strong mentorship and meaningful research opportunities.”
Beyond its scientific contribution, the study reflects the mission of the LaunchPad Program: providing aspiring professionals with practical experience in real-world data, AI, and outcomes research while contributing to impactful healthcare studies.
“Developing future healthcare data scientists requires more than classroom learning,” Yao added. “Students need opportunities to tackle real research questions, collaborate across disciplines, and contribute to work that advances scientific knowledge. We are incredibly proud of what this team achieved.”
Citation: Yang S, Hawryluk C, Liu J, Eckert N, Otoo J, Vina ER, Yao L. Harnessing AI and social media to understand real-world patient experiences in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Lupus Science & Medicine. 2026;13:e002024. doi:10.1136/lupus-2026-002024.
About the LaunchPad Program
The Polygon Health Analytics LaunchPad Program is a project-based training and mentorship initiative that prepares emerging professionals for careers in real-world data (RWD), real-world evidence (RWE), and health economics and outcomes research (HEOR). Participants gain hands-on experience applying advanced analytics to real-world healthcare challenges under the guidance of industry experts.
About Polygon Health Analytics
Polygon Health Analytics is a healthcare consulting firm working at the intersection of real-world data, artificial intelligence, and health economics and outcomes research. The company applies advanced analytics and evidence-generation approaches to help healthcare and life sciences organizations transform complex data into meaningful insights that support better decision-making and improved patient outcomes.
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