LAUSR

BACKGROUND Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is closely related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We aimed to examine the association of ideal cardiovascular health (ICH) with arterial stiffness, inflammation, and physical fitness in women with SLE. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 76 women with SLE. Ideal levels of 7 health metrics (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, healthy diet, blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose) were used to define the ICH score (0-7 ideal metrics) and the ICH status (≥4 ideal metrics). Arterial stiffness was measured through pulse wave velocity (PWV) and inflammation through serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was measured by 6-min walk test (6MWT) and Siconolfi step test and muscular strength by handgrip strength and 30-s chair stand and range of motion (ROM) by the back-scratch test. RESULTS Higher ICH score was associated with lower PWV (β = -0.122, p = 0.002)], lower hs-CRP (β = -0.234, p = 0.056)], higher CRF [6MWT (β = 0.263, p = 0.041); Siconolfi step test (β = 0.330, p < 0.001)], higher ROM (β = 0.278, p = 0.013) and higher relative handgrip strength (β = 0.248, p = 0.024)]. Women with ICH status presented lower PWV (mean difference 0.40 m/s, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.63, p = 0.001), and higher CRF [assessed by 6MWT (mean difference 43.9 m, 95% CI 5.0 to 82.7, p = 0.028)], than women with non-ICH status. Sensitivity analyses using ICH score ranging 0-14 and considering ICH status with ≥5 metrics revealed consistent results. CONCLUSION ICH is associated with lower arterial stiffness, lower inflammation, and higher fitness in women with SLE. These results should be confirmed in future prospective research.