Table 4

Carotid intima–media thickness over 7 years in association with disease factors at inclusion and follow-up in patients with SLE

Effect of risk factors at inclusionEffect of risk factors at follow-up
Beta coefficient (95% CI)P valueBeta coefficient (95% CI)P value
Disease duration
 Model 10.0013 (−0.0007 to 0.0032)0.20.0011 (−0.0011 to 00032)0.3
History of lupus nephritis
 Model 10.0413 (0.0053 to 0.0744)0.0250.0506 (0.0109 to 0.0902)0.013
 Model 20.0482 (0.0128 to 0.0837)0.008*0.0573 (0.0190 to 0.0955)0.004*
Flare during follow-up
 Model 1-0.0046 (−0.0376 to 0.0469)0.8
SLEDAI
 Model 10.0017 (−0.0032 to 0.0065)0.50.0059 (−0.0013 to 0.0131)0.1
SLICC
 Model 10.0042 (−0.0059 to 0.0142)0.40.0071 (−0.0028 to 0.0170)0.2
History of APS
 Model 1NA0.0261 (−0.0205 to 0.0726)0.3
aPL antibodies
 Model 10.0050 (−0.0303 to 0.0402)0.8NA
Prednisolone average dose
 Model 10.0590 (0.0193 to 0.0987)0.0040.0160 (−0.1403 to 0.1723)0.8
 Model 20.0575 (0.0202 to 0.0948)0.003*NS
HCQ use
 Model 1−0.0186 (−0.0680 to 0.0308)0.5−0.0310 (−0493 to 0.1113)0.4
DMARDs use
 Model 10.0022 (−0.0334 to 0.0380)0.90.0009 (−0.0385 to 0.0403)0.9
Cyclophosphamide and/or rituximab ever use
 Model 10.0056 (−0.0385 to 0.0498)0.80.0018 (−0.0400 to 0.0436)0.9
  • Model 1 was adjusted for age and sex.

  • Model 2 included, in addition to age and sex, variables with p value <0.10 in model 1 and CV risk factors as ever smoking, systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, HDL, BMI, family history of CV disease and interaction terms of tested independent variables by assessment visit.

  • Model 2 was run only for the variables with p value <0.1 in model 1 and included, in addition to age and sex, traditional CV risk factors as ever smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, BMI, family history of CV disease and interaction terms of tested independent variables by assessment visit.

  • NS if p value >0.10 in model 2.

  • DMARDs use: azathioprine, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, ciclosporin.

  • *P value <0.05 withal by additional adjustment for history of atherosclerotic CV event.

  • aPL, anti-phospholipid antibodies; APS, anti-phospholipid syndrome; BMI, body mass index; CV, cardiovascular; DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; NA, not available; NS, not significant; SLEDAI, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (without laboratory tests); SLICC, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (damage index).