Background SLE is linked to an elevated risk of MACEs. CVD remained the leading cause of death among SLE patients. Management of CVD risk in SLE patients cannot be applied as the general population and must be implemented as soon as SLE is recognised. Our meta-analysis aims to evaluate and provide evidence of the correlation between traditional and SLE-related disease risk factors and CIMT as an early predictor of MACEs in SLE patients

Methods Relevant literatures were obtained from CENTRAL, PubMed and Google Scholars. The primary outcome was correlation of traditional and SLE related risk factors with CIMT in SLE patients were presented as correlation coefficients (r). Random-effect model was used on the analysis in order to represent population better. Risk of bias was assessed by using funnel plot

Results Out of 1657 studies found, six full-text studies met the inclusion criteria. Total of 615 patients from six studies were included. Our meta-analysis showed traditional risk factors age [r = 0.45, 95% CI (0.35, 0.56), p < 0.0001] and BMI [r = 0.29, 95% CI (0.16, 0.42), p < 0.0001] are correlated with CIMT. SLE related disease like SLE duration [r = 0.21, 95% CI (0.05, 0.37), p = 0.01], SLICC score [r = 0.27, 95% CI (0.12, 0.42), p = 0.0005], and CRP [r = 0.25, 95% CI (0.02, 0.48), p = 0.03] also significantly correlated with CIMT based on random effect model

Conclusions We found significant correlation between CIMT and age, BMI, SLE duration, SLICC score, and CRP as a predictor of MACEs in SLE. By pointing out the role of CIMT, we hope that future guidelines will place more emphasis on them. SLE patients should be viewed as high-risk individuals and risk factors should be aggressively modified as soon as SLE is recognised