Traditional and lupus-related atherosclerotic risk factors at baseline
| Variable | ≥140/90 mm Hg (n=155) | 130-139/80-89 mm Hg (n=316) | <130/80 mm Hg (n=1061) | P value |
| Age (year) | 46.8±14.6 | 39.7±13.2 | 33.6±13.7 | <0.001 |
| Females (n, %) | 126 (81.3) | 266 (84.2) | 957 (90.2) | <0.001 |
| Caucasians (n, %) | 119 (76.8) | 226 (71.5) | 647 (61) | <0.001 |
| Blacks (n, %) | 23 (14.8) | 40 (12.7) | 154 (14.5) | |
| Others (n, %) | 13 (8.4) | 50 (15.8) | 260 (24.5) | |
| Adjusted mean BP (mm Hg) | 149/91 | 135/86 | 112/71 | <0.001 |
| Diabetes (n, %) | 17 (11.0) | 18 (5.7) | 23 (2.2) | <0.001 |
| Dyslipidaemia* (n, %) | 94 (60.6) | 121 (38.3) | 195 (18.4) | <0.001 |
| Total cholesterol (mmol/L) | 5.9±1.8 | 5.1±1.3 | 4.5±1.1 | <0.001 |
| Smoking (current, n, %) | 36 (23.2) | 57 (18.0) | 159 (15.0) | 0.004 |
| Disease duration (y) | 5.5±5.8 | 6.9±7.0 | 6.0±6.0 | 0.026 |
| SLEDAI-2K | 5.2±5.0 | 5.2±5.6 | 4.3±4.4 | <0.001 |
| SDI | 1.0±1.3 | 0.7±1.2 | 0.5±0.9 | <0.001 |
| eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 69.9±31.6 | 86.0±32.4 | 102.0±29.4 | <0.001 |
| aPL† (n, %) | 53 (34.2) | 75 (23.7) | 216 (20.4) | 0.003 |
| Antimalarials (n, %) | 49 (31.6) | 176 (55.7) | 721 (68.0) | <0.001 |
| Glucocorticosteroids (GCS) (n, %) | 125 (80.6) | 230 (72.8) | 690 (65.0) | <0.001 |
| Cumulative GCS dose (g)†‡ | 16.9±17.9 | 18.9±22.6 | 15.5±18.7 | <0.001 |
| Antihypertensives (n, %) | 59 (38.1) | 95 (30.1) | 168 (15.8) | <0.001 |
| Statins (n, %) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0) | 0.146 |
| Antiplatelets/anticoagulants (n, %) | 8 (5.2) | 19 (6) | 94 (8.9) | 0.106 |
P values: trend from ANOVA for continuous variables, X2 test for categorical variables.
*Abnormal total cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein for two consecutive visits.
†Lupus anticoagulant and/or anticardiolipin antibodies (IgM, IgG).
‡From enrolment up to the baseline.
ANOVA, analysis of variance; aPL, antiphospholipid antibodies; BP, blood pressure; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; SDI, Systemic Damage Index; SLEDAI, SLE Disease Activity Index 2000.