Prognostic Implications of Traditional and Emerging Risk Factor Profiles in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease modulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, hence associated with cardiovascular disease. Standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (SMuRFs; hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, diabetes and smoking) and non-traditional risk factors (NTRFs; chronic renal impairment, obstructive sleep apnoea and obesity) are established drivers of cardiovascular disease; however, their impact remains undefined in populations with systemic sclerosis. We sought to assess the prognostic impact of SMuRFs and NTRFs in patients with systemic sclerosis.