PHILADELPHIA -- For patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, depression further increases their already elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, researchers said here.
In these patients, depression was associated with a nearly four-fold greater risk of subclinical atherosclerosis (OR 3.85, 95% CI 1.37 to 10.87), Carol Greco, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh, reported at the meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.
This relationship was independent of several other factors, including age, presence of hypertension, years of education, C-reactive protein levels, and waist-to-hip ratio.
The finding is important, Greco said, because "depression is a modifiable risk factor and could be targeted for intervention."
The relationship between cardiovascular risk and depression is well known based on studies in the general population, she said, but the issue had not been explored in depth in patients with lupus, who have higher rates of both conditions.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Lupus/16580