Table 3 Factors associated with carotid plaques in SLE patients

Age, years

36 (29–59)

44 (30–63)

<0.001

Female gender, n (%)

34 (85)

18 (78.3)

0.497

10-Year cardiovascular risk^a, %

1 (1–9)

1.5 (1–18)

0.002

Overweight^b

9 (22.5)

15 (65.2)

<0.001

eGFR^c, ml/min/1.73 m²

96 (56–127)

76 (54–122)

0.294

HbA1c, %

5.4 (4.4–6.7)

5.5 (5–6.4)

0.336

Detectable HS-cTnT^d

17 (42.5)

20 (87)

<0.001

Proteinuria/creatininuria, mg/mmol

18.7 (5–558)

22.7 (5–234)

0.425

Duration of SLE disease, years

11 (1–34)

14 (4–37)

0.138

SELENA-SLEDAI score

2 (0–13)

2 (0–8)

0.593

Lupus nephritis^e, n (%)

19 (47.5)

14 (60.8)

0.306

AP antibodies^f, n (%)

13 (32.5)

9 (39.1)

0.595

APS, n (%)

4 (10)

4 (17.4)

0.396

Cumulative years of steroid treatment, years

6.5 (0–16)

10 (0–21)

0.075

Hormonal contraception^g, n (%)

12/34 (35.3)

3/18 (16.7)

0.158

Hydroxychloroquine, n (%)

40 (100)

22 (95/6)

0.184

Immunosuppressive therapy^h, n (%)

28 (70)

19 (82.6)

0.421