A new study finds Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is common in people with lupus and associated with baseline organ damage. The condition leads to high risk of adverse outcomes with irreversible organ damage in those with lupus as well. MetS is a group of health conditions that raises the risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

A multiethnic group of 116 people with lupus were studied for an average of 6.7 years. Of the group, 29% exhibited MetS. 4 out of 5 exhibited at least one MetS condition or a combination of conditions: hypertension or high blood pressure (59%), low high-density lipoproteins also known as bad cholesterol (HDLs) (51%), hypertriglyceridaemia or fat in the blood (32%), obesity (16%) and hyperglycaemia or high blood sugar (22%). Disease activity was not associated with MetS, however a connection to organ damage was evident. There was no association between glucocorticoid use and MetS.

The researchers call for further examination of MetS to see if its presence increases the already-high prevalence of heart disease in people with lupus. Learn more about how lupus affects the heart and circulation.

Read the study

Listen to a podcast with researchers Drs. Apostolopoulos and Morand as they further discuss the findings from this study.