Table 1

Demographics and clinical characteristics at baseline of 124 patients with SLE with or without vascular ultrasound-confirmed atherosclerosis and with or without progression of atherosclerosis

All patients
(N=124)
With plaques at baseline* (n=30)No plaques at baseline (n=94)P value†With new plaques (n=26)Without new plaques (n=98)P value‡
Age (years), mean±SD44.4±11.754.4±11.141.4±10.1<0.00152.8±8.742.3±11.50.001
Disease duration (years), mean±SD8.8±7.59.6±7.58.6±7.50.55611.0±7.38.2±7.50.090
SLEDAI-2K (points), mean±SD2.4±3.02.5±2.82.4±3.20.9232.5±2.62.4±3.20.937
SLICC/ACR DI (points), mean±SD0.8±1.00.8±1.10.7±1.00.6901.0±1.50.7±0.90.090
Antiphospholipid antibody positivity, n (%)56 (47)17 (57)39 (41)0.10518 (69)38 (39)0.006
Lupus nephritis26 (21)7 (23)19 (20)0.7155 (19)21(21)0.807
Chronic kidney disease10 (8)6 (20)4 (4)0.0063 (12)7 (7)0.464
Family history of CAD, n (%)14 (11)3 (10)11 (12)0.7981 (4)13 (13)0.177
Obesity, n (%)27 (21)8 (27)19 (20)0.45610 (39)17 (17)0.020
Smoking
 Current, n (%)46 (37)12 (40)34 (36)0.65811 (42)35 (36)0.536
 Ever, n (%)76 (61)22 (73)54 (57)0.16519 (73)57 (58)0.165
 Pack-years18.7±16.224.7±14.916.2±16.30.04023.0±19.817.3±14.90.193
Hyperlipidaemia, n (%)52 (42)21 (70)31 (33)0.00112 (46)40 (41)0.624
Total cholesterol (mg/dL), mean±SD195±42206±42191±420.109200±41194±430.538
LDL (mg/dL), mean±SD115±34125±33111±340.065117±35114±340.681
Hypertension, n (%)44 (35)15 (50)29 (31)0.05611 (42)33 (34)0.413
Systolic BP (mm Hg), mean±SD121±18127±21119±170.038134±23118±15<0.001
Diastolic BP (mm Hg), mean±SD73±9.72±873±100.65178±1072±90.001
Glucocorticoids
 End of follow-up, n (%)75 (60)19 (63)56 (60)0.70019 (73)56 (57)0.140
 Cumulative dose, total (g)§14.7±17.212.5±13.915.3±18.00.43320.7±18.313±16.50.042
 Cumulative dose (during follow-up period) (g)3.5±5.33.0±3.13.8±5.80.5234.4±4.53.4±5.50.405
Immunosuppressives, end of follow-up, n (%)50 (40)9 (30)41 (44)0.18611 (42)39 (40)0.816
Hydroxychloroquine, n (%)
 Baseline85 (69)23 (77)62 (66)0.27115 (58)70 (72)0.180
 End of follow-up98 (79)25 (83)73 (77)0.50019 (73)79 (80)0.401
 Follow-up 7598 (79)26 (87)72 (77)0.23819 (73)79 (81)0.401
 Follow-up 10092 (74)25 (83)67 (71)0.18919 (73)73 (75)0.884
Antiplatelets, n (%)
 Baseline41 (33)13 (43)28 (30)0.1708 (31)33 (34)0.780
 End of follow-up44 (36)14 (47)30 (32)0.14111 (42)33 (34)0.413
 Follow-up 7543 (35)14 (47)29 (31)0.11310 (39)33 (34)0.648
 Follow-up 10040 (31)14 (47)26 (27)0.0419 (35)30 (31)0.696
Statins, n (%)
 Baseline13 (10)8 (27)5 (5)0.0013 (12)10 (10)0.843
 End of follow-up28 (22)13 (43)15 (16)0.0029 (35)19 (20)0.099
 Follow-up 7528 (22)13 (43)15 (16)0.0029 (35)19 (20)0.099
 Follow-up 10028 (22)13 (43)15 (16)0.0029 (35)19 (20)0.099
Antihypertensives, n (%)45 (36)
 Baseline42 (34)14 (47)28 (30)0.0899 (35)33 (34)0.928
 End of follow-up45 (36)15 (50)30 (31)0.07311 (42)34 (35)0.473
 Follow-up 7540 (32)15 (50)25 (27)0.01710 (39)30 (31)0.447
 Follow-up 10038 (31)13 (43)25 (27)0.0839 (35)29 (30)0.621
  • *Carotid plaques in 25 patients, femoral plaques in 19 patients and plaques at both arterial sites in 14 patients.

  • †Comparison between patients with or without atherosclerotic plaques at baseline.

  • ‡Comparison between patients with or without new atherosclerotic plaques at follow-up.

  • §Glucocorticoid cumulative dose total: dose between glucocorticoids first (ever) administration and the end of follow-up.

  • BP, blood pressure; CAD, coronary artery disease; SLICC/ACR DI, Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index; follow-up 75, duration of continuous treatment ≥75% of follow-up period; follow-up 100, continuous treatment during the entire follow-up period; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; SLEDAI-2K, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000.