Association between depression and vascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus

J Rheumatol. 2012 Feb;39(2):262-8. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.110327. Epub 2011 Dec 15.

Abstract

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression. Although depression may contribute to CVD risk in population-based studies, its influence on cardiovascular morbidity in SLE has not been evaluated. We evaluated the association between depression and vascular disease in SLE.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2002-2005 in 161 women with SLE and without CVD. The primary outcome measure was a composite vascular disease marker consisting of the presence of coronary artery calcium and/or carotid artery plaque.

Results: In total, 101 women met criteria for vascular disease. In unadjusted analyses, several traditional cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory markers, adiposity, SLE disease-related factors, and depression were associated with vascular disease. In the final multivariable model, the psychological variable depression was associated with nearly 4-fold higher odds for vascular disease (OR 3.85, 95% CI 1.37, 10.87) when adjusted for other risk factors of age, lower education level, hypertensive status, waist-hip ratio, and C-reactive protein.

Conclusion: In SLE, depression is independently associated with vascular disease, along with physical factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carotid Stenosis / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Vascular Diseases / epidemiology*