Table 1

Demographic and clinical data of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy controls*

CharacteristicsSLE (n=250)Control (n=122)p Value
Age (years, (mean±SD))42.0±13.141.4±13.5NS
Total cholesterol (mg/dl, (mean±SD))185.1±43.2183.5±48.0NS
HDL (mg/dl, (mean±SD))56.3±16.858.3±15.6NS
LDL (mg/dl, (mean±SD))105.8±34.7104.8±43.8NS
Triglycerides (mg/dl, (mean±SD))112.9±70.5108.4±52.9NS
High-sensitivity CRP (mg/l, (mean±SD))2.8±6.72.0±3.2NS
History of previous CVD (% (n))8.4 (21)0<0.001
Body mass index26.1±6.524.2±5.10.002
Family history of CAD (% (n))24.8 (62)18.0 (22)NS
History of hypertension (% (n))§30.8 (77)16.4 (20)0.003
History of diabetes (% (n))5.2 (13)0.8 (1)0.04
History of smoking (current) (% (n))**7.6 (19)12.3 (15)NS
Mean intima-media thickness (mm2, (mean±SD))0.55±0.140.54±0.13NS
Presence of carotid plaque (yes, no) (% (n))17.2 (43)13.1 (16)NS
Ethnicity (% (n))
 Caucasian49.2 (123)59.8 (73)
 Asian or Pacific Islander13.2 (33)21.3 (26)
 African American12.8 (32)9.0 (11)
 Hispanic18.4 (46)8.2 (10)
 Mixed or other6.4 (16)1.6 (2)
Leptin (ng/ml, (mean±SD))23.7±28.013.3±12.9<0.001
Adiponectin (µg/ml, (mean±SD))15.3±8.414.0±7.8NS
Disease duration (years, (mean±SD))11.9±8.5NA
SELENA-SLEDAI (mean±SD)3.9±4.0NA
SDI damage (mean±SD)1.3±1.7NA
  • * Plus or minus values are mean plus or minus SD.

  • p Values shown only if statistically significant.

  • Previously documented CVD is defined a history of myocardial infarction, or CAD documented on angiogram or stress test, or a previous cerebrovascular event, including transient ischaemic attacks (confirmed by a doctor) and stroke (confirmed by appropriate imaging).

  • § Hypertension was defined as use of antihypertensive drugs or a systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure >90 mm Hg.

  • Diabetes mellitus was defined as the presence of a fasting glucose ≥7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl), or in subjects receiving insulin or an oral hypoglycaemic agent.

  • * *Smoking was present if subjects had smoked any cigarettes within the past 3 months.

  • CAD, coronary artery disease; CRP, C-reactive protein; CVD, cardiovascular disease; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; SDI, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index; SLEDAI, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index; SELENA, Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus—National Assessment.