Systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis increases risk of cardiovascular disease

Compared with the general population, individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a study, which also found that patients with lupus nephritis (LN) have a significantly higher risk of CVD than individuals with SLE.

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers analyzed 20 studies and found that the risk of CVD increased by 2 times in patients with SLE compared with the general population. There was a significantly increased risk of atherosclerosis, stroke, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, and heart failure. The risk of CVD in patients with LN increased by 2 times compared to patients with SLE.

Reference
Lu X, Wang Y, Zhang J, et al. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus face a high risk of cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and Meta-analysis. Int Immunopharmacol. 2021;94:107466. DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107466. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33636561.