Risk factors associated with arterial hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Holguín, Cuba

Introduction: The presence of arterial hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is a health problem that has not been studied in Holguín. Objective: To determine the cardiovascular risk factors associated with hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The universe was composed of 193 patients with lupus who were treated in the Rheumatology Consultation of the Clinical-Surgical Hospital of Holguín from March 3, 2014 to January 1, 2015. The sample was made up of 81 patients who were randomly selected according to a 95 % confidence interval, a population size of 193, an estimated proportion of arterial hypertension of 0,20, a precision of a 7 %, and a design effect of 1. The recommendations of the American College of Rheumatology were followed for the diagnosis of lupus erythematosus, and national guidelines were used for the diagnosis of hypertension. Clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory variables were determined. Odds Ratio (OR), and 95 % confidence intervals (IC95%) for risk determined factors were. Results: The risk factors associated with hypertension in patients with lupus erythematosus are: age (OR=1,04; IC95%:1,01-1,08), age of the lupus onset (OR=1,04; IC95%:1,01-1,08), diabetes mellitus (OR=8,50; IC95%:1,63-44,33), metabolic syndrome (OR=5,09; IC95%:1,87-13,84), hyperuricemia (OR=4,08; IC95%:1,07-15,44), and microalbuminuria (OR=19,81; IC95%:4,24-92,39). Conclusions: The patients with systemic lupus erythematosus presented cardiovascular risk factors associated with arterial hypertension, which are identifiable in the primary health care with variables of relatively easy realization. Keywords: systemic lupus erythematosus, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, risk factors, adults.