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Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriatic arthritis (PA). Women with SLE are reported to have a 5- to 6-fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disorders (CVD), as well as patients with RA have a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of myocardial infarction and, up to a 50% increased risk of CVD mortality. SLE, RA and PA are prevalent disorders and indicators in rheumatology, so assessment of comorbidities can play a role in the prioritization and selection of appropriate treatment and management. Objectives: To evaluate the association of cardiovascular risk factors with morbidity and mortality in patients with SLE, RA and PA. Methods: Retrospective study where 68 patients diagnosed with SLE, 140 patients with RA, 45 patients with AP and 123 age-matched eligible controls attending a hospital in South America, in 2018, participated. Those with other rheumatologic disorders, including overlap syndrome, and patients using glucocorticoids for other diseases were excluded. To reduce potential bias, the investigators attempted to recruit participants of a certain age range and from public and private services. Sequential sampling was performed to find a statistically significant difference between at least two groups. All participants were evaluated clinically and biochemically to define their metabolic profiles, as well as demographic, clinical characteristics and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients and controls were taken into account. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and chi-square tests were used. The results were considered significant when p Results: 253 patients participated, 68 with SLE, 140 with RA, 45 with PA and 123 age-matched controls. The mean age of patients with SLE was 42.14±11.5 years, with RA it was 44.00±9.8 years, with AP 44.70±5.0 and for controls 43.30±10.5 years. Patients with PA had higher HAQ (Health Assessment Questionnaire) and DAS28 (Disease Activity Score 28) scores, implying a higher degree of disability and disease activity (pConclusion: In the current study, metabolic syndrome occurred in one-third to one-half of the patients, which is related to that reported by other studies. Considering the high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the patients in this study, systematic screening for components of metabolic syndrome is recommended, especially in patients with PA and SLE. Among the limitations of the study, two major ones are recognized: first, the lack of evaluation of the association between cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, which would have allowed a better analysis of the real importance of detecting metabolic syndrome as a promoter of future vascular damage in patients with rheumatologic disorder; and second, the sample size, as it was relatively small due to the difficulties associated with age and gender in patients with SLE, RA, and PA. REFERENCES: NIL. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.
Goyeneche et al. (Sat,) studied this question.