Cardiovascular risk factors and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus at Kenyatta National Hospital

Background: Cardiovascular disease is now acknowledged as a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). The risk of developing coronary artery disease in these patients is four to eight times higher than that in the normal population. Prior to this study there was no data regarding cardiovascular risk in SLE patients in our setting. Objective: To determine the prevalence of selected cardiovascular risk factors and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus at Kenyatta National Hospital. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey carried out in patients with SLE and age- and sex-matched controls at the Kenyatta National Hospital. The SLE patients underwent clinical assessment of their blood pressure, weight, height, waist and hip circumferences as well as laboratory testing to determine their fasting blood sugar and fasting lipid