Atherosclerotic Vascular Events in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Evolving Story

Abstract

Atherosclerotic vascular events (AVE) are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We aimed to determine the effect of early recognition and therapy for both classic risk factors for AVE and for SLE, on the burden of AVE in SLE in recent decades. Inception patients who entered the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic between 1975 and 1987 followed to 1992 (Cohort 1), and between 1999 and 2011 followed to 2016 (Cohort 2) were studied. AVE attributed to atherosclerosis and occurring during the 17 years were identified. SLE disease activity and therapy as well as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, and smoking were assessed. Analysis included descriptive statistics on baseline characteristics, traditional risk factors over the followup, outcome rates by each 100 person-years (PY), Kaplan-Meier cumulative AVE curves, as well as competing risk Cox models adjusted by inverse probability weights. Of the 234 patients in Cohort 1, 26 patients (11%) had an AVE compared with 10 of 262 patients (3.8%) in Cohort 2. The rate per 100 PY of followup was 1.8 in Cohort 1 and 0.44 in Cohort 2 (p < 0.0001). Better control of all risk factors and disease activity was achieved in Cohort 2. There was a reduction of 60% in the risk for AVE in Cohort 2. The incidence of AVE in SLE in the modern era has declined in large part owing to more effective management of classic coronary artery risk factors and of SLE.