Cardiovascular risk profiles in a lupus cohort: what do different calculators tell us?

BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and this risk is increased in patients with SLE who may not conform to traditional cardiovascular risk profiles.AimsTo determine the prevalence of high CVD risk among patients with SLE calculated using different risk calculators, and to characterise those identified as high risk.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis to estimate CVD risk using the Framingham Risk Equation (Framingham score) and an SLE-specific CVD risk equation (SLE score) was undertaken using data from a single centre cohort. The characteristics of patients identified as ‘high risk’ by the SLE score only (the ‘missed group’) were compared with those identified by the Framingham score (the ‘conventional group’).Results146 patients were included; 22 (15%) and 44 (30%) were determined to be at ‘high risk’ based on the Framingham and SLE scores, respectively. Patients in the ‘missed group’ were less likely to have traditional risk factors and were more likely to be female (81% vs 50%; p=0.03), younger (mean age 54 vs 69 years p