Cardiac risk factor awareness and management in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

✍ Scribed by Costenbader, Karen H. ;Wright, Elizabeth ;Liang, Matthew H. ;Karlson, Elizabeth W.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 150 KB
• Volume: 51
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0004-3591
• DOI: 10.1002/art.20824

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Objective

To assess awareness and management of traditional cardiac risk factors (CRFs) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and physicians.

Methods

SLE patients (n = 110) completed a questionnaire concerning CRFs. Medical records were reviewed blinded to questionnaire results for the presence and management of 6 CRFs: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and physical inactivity.

Results

Subjects were predominantly female (97%), mean (±SD) age was 43.4 years (±11.8), mean SLE duration was 15.3 years (±7.2), and 51% had ≥2 CRFs by self report. Twenty‐three percent had never had their cholesterol levels checked. Hypercholesterolemia was more frequently documented in the medical records than reported by the patient (33% versus 24%). Physical inactivity was more frequently self reported than documented (59% versus 23%). Rheumatologists and patients had low interrater reliability for the presence of hypercholesterolemia (κ = 0.26) and physical inactivity (κ = –0.02). More than half (58%) of CRFs were treated, and 21% of subjects with elevated cholesterol received a medication.

Conclusion

Recognition, recording, and management of CRFs falls short given the significance of the problem.