Coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factor analysis in an age-stratified hospital population with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Objectives

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at higher risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) particularly at a younger age. We sought to determine the effect of risk factors on the prevalence of CAD in age stratified hospitalized patients with SLE.

Methods

The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was queried for hospitalized patients with SLE during the years 2010–2015, and a control group without SLE. The study sample was stratified by age, 18–35 years, 36–55 years, and adults >55 years. The effect of SLE and traditional Framingham risk factors on the prevalence of CAD were assessed. Dominance analysis allowed for ranking of CAD risk factors in each age group.

Results

A total 167,466 patients were matched to an equal number of controls. 88.8% were women, 48.5% Caucasian and 29% African-American. In lupus patients 18–35 years prevalent risk factors included hyperlipidemia, hypertension, hypercoagulability and CKD. Diabetes and depression ranked least important. In middle and older patients, traditional risk factors were dominant. In adults >55 years the prevalence of CAD appears higher in Caucasians whereas in young patients 18–35 years, African Americans are dominant.

Conclusion

CAD in the young adult patient with SLE is represented predominately by an African-American population and it is dominated by a hypercoagulable state and a less significant role for diabetes. In the lupus cohort over 55 years, which is predominantly Caucasian, SLE specific factors are less significant.