Variability over time and correlates of cholesterol and blood pressure in systemic lupus erythematosus: a longitudinal cohort study

Table 6 Independent correlates of total cholesterol in women only, determined by using multivariate linear regression (GEE)

Variable^a	Parameter estimate	95% CI	Pvalue
Age (years)	0.009	0.006, 0.011	< 0.0001
SLEDAI-2K score^b	0.04	0.036, 0.046	< 0.0001
Disease duration (years)	-0.004	-0.006, -0.0017	0.0008
Corticosteroids	0.31	0.26, 0.36	< 0.0001
Antimalarials^c	-0.41	-0.45, -0.36	< 0.0001
Immunosuppressives^d	0.15	0.11, 0.20	< 0.0001
Antihypertensives^e	0.19	0.14, 0.24	< 0.0001
Hypertension^f	0.25	0.19, 0.32	< 0.0001
Lipid-lowering meds (statins)	-0.09	-0.15, -0.03	0.004
HRT^g	0.17	0.09, 0.25	< 0.0001

GEE, generalized estimating equation; CI, confidence interval.
^aAll variables measured coincident with measurement of total cholesterol.
^bSLE Disease Activity Index 2000; scores range from 0 to 105, with higher scores indicating more-active disease.
^cAntimalarials include chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.
^d Immunosuppressives include methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil,
cyclosporine, and cyclophosphamide.
^eAntihypertensives include all classes of drugs used to lower blood pressure.
^fHypertension is defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mm Hg.
^gEstrogen with/without progestin hormone-replacement therapy.

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