INTRODUCTION: The risk of death from cardiovascular disease is nearly five times greater in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) than in the general population. Traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease do not explain this increase. An instrument for early identification of increased risk of cardiovascular disease in this population does not exist. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of the Framingham risk score to determine the risk of cardiovascular disease in SLE patients compared to normal individuals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty female patients with SLE and 60 women without rheumatic disorders participated in this study. The Framingham risk score was used to estimate the 10-year mortality secondary to cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) (26.8 ± 6.2 vs. 24.9 ± 3.8), triglyceride levels (159.3 ± 103.7 vs. 113.8 ± 50.3), and diastolic blood pressure (84.3 ± 11.5 vs. 79.1 ± 12.0) were higher in SLE patients than in the control group (P < 0.05). Hypertension was observed in 56% of SLE patients and in 33% of the control group (P < 0.05). Despite the differences observed between both groups, the risk of cardiovascular disease according to the Framingham risk score was similar in both groups, i.e., 1%. Statistically significant differences were not observed when individuals whose risk was >10% were compared (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although SLE patients have a higher cardiovascular mortality rate, the risk of myocardial infarction or mortality from coronary artery disease in 10 years in SLE patients is similar to that of patients without rheumatic diseases. The Framingham risk score cannot estimate the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women with SLE.
systemic lupus erythematosus; cardiovascular risk; Framingham risk score
