A NEW study reveals that patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) face significantly higher risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) compared to the general population. Conducted using the IBM MarketScan Database, this retrospective cohort study analyzed health data from over 300,000 individuals between 2018 and 2020.
The findings underscore the need for increased vigilance in managing cardiovascular health among CLE patients. Compared to disease-free controls, CLE patients were found to have 1.72 times the odds of prevalent ASCVD. This risk, while slightly lower than in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), exceeded that associated with psoriasis. At three years of follow-up, CLE patients experienced ASCVD at a rate of 15.2 events per 1000 person-years, compared to 10.3 in controls.
CLE, a chronic autoimmune condition primarily affecting the skin, has long been overshadowed by its systemic counterpart, SLE. However, this study highlights its systemic implications, particularly in cardiovascular health. The analysis adjusted for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors, revealing that CLE patients are at a 32% higher risk for incident ASCVD compared to controls.
“Clinicians managing CLE should recognize the heightened cardiovascular risk in this population,” the authors emphasized. They recommend incorporating ASCVD screening into routine care for CLE patients, potentially mirroring approaches used for SLE management.
The study also prompts further exploration of lifestyle and comorbid factors, such as smoking, which could amplify ASCVD risk in autoimmune conditions. With SLE demonstrating the highest ASCVD incidence (24.8 per 1000 person-years), followed by CLE and psoriasis, the study suggests a nuanced relationship between specific autoimmune conditions and cardiovascular health.
For healthcare providers, these findings advocate for a proactive approach to risk assessment and management in CLE patients, with an emphasis on early detection and intervention to mitigate ASCVD-related complications.
