Relationship between low ABI and cardiovascular variables (univariate analysis). Values are n (%) unless otherwise noted.
| Low ABI, n = 46 | Normal ABI, n = 170 | p | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age at SLE diagnosis, yrs, mean (SD) | 43 (17) | 34 (14) | 0.001 |
| Age at study, yrs, mean (SD) | 57 (15) | 47 (14) | < 0.001 |
| Disease duration, yrs, mean (SD) | 14 (10) | 12 (9) | 0.245 |
| Sex (female) | 41/46 (89) | 158/170 (93) | 0.394 |
| Age as a vascular risk factor | 15/46 (32) | 26/170 (15) | 0.007 |
| Abdominal obesity | 20/46 (43) | 53/170 (31) | 0.173 |
| Metabolic syndrome | 5/46 (11) | 16/170 (9) | 0.988 |
| DM | 4/46 (8.7) | 3/170 (1.8) | 0.018 |
| HTN | 24/46 (52.2) | 47/170 (27.5) | 0.002 |
| Hypercholesterolemia | 23/46 (50) | 51/170 (29.8) | 0.018 |
| Current smoking | 15,746 (33) | 50/170 (29) | 0.18 |
| Smoking ever | 24/46 (52) | 84/170 (49) | 0.74 |
| Any vascular risk factor (DM, HTN, hypercholesterolemia, or current smoking) | 37/46 (80) | 99/170 (58) | 0.005 |
| Any vascular risk factor (DM, HTN, hypercholesterolemia, or ever smoking) | 41/46 (89.1) | 120/170 (70.8) | 0.011 |
| No exercise | 20/46 (43) | 77/170 (45) | 0.82 |
| Alcohol | 5/46 (11) | 21/170 (12) | 0.36 |
| Family history of CV disease | 6/46 (13) | 19/170 (11.2) | 0.93 |
| BMI: mean (SD) | 26.7 (5.3) | 25.5 (5.5) | 0.2 |
| Postmenopausal status* | 27/41 (66) | 75/161 (47) | 0.03 |
| Microalbuminuria** | 7/40 (17) | 32/156 (20) | 0.67 |
| Left ventricular hypertrophy | 5/46 (11) | 10/167 (6) | 0.252 |
| IHD/HF | 4/46 (8.7) | 2/170 (1.2) | 0.006 |
| PAD | 2/46 (4.3) | 1/170 (0.6) | 0.052 |
| Stroke | 8/46 (17.4) | 11/170 (6.4) | 0.02 |
| Chronic renal disease | 4/46 (9) | 18/170 (11) | 0.707 |
| Previous arterial thrombosis (stroke, IHD/HF, or PAD) | 13/46 (28.3) | 13/170 (7.6) | < 0.001 |
| Uric acid, mg/dl: mean (SD) | 4.47 (1.2) | 4.49 (1.7) | 0.94 |
| D vitamin levels, ng/ml: mean (SD) | 25.6 (11.7) | 29.1 (27.3) | 0.414 |
↵* Data calculated on 200 women.
↵** Total sample: 196 patients. SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus; DM: diabetes mellitus; HBP: high blood pressure; DLP: hypercholesterolemia; PAD: peripheral arterial disease; IHD/HF: ischemic heart disease and/or heart failure; ABI: ankle-brachial index; HTN: hypertension; CV: cardiovascular; BMI: body mass index.