METABOLIC SYNDROME;

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multiorgan autoimmunedisease with an increased incidence rate of thrombotic events (9–37%). Metabolic syndrome(MetS) may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in (SLE). The Metabolic syndrome is moreprevalent in SLE patients than the general population and is associated with endothelial injuryand coronary atherosclerosis. Objective: To determine the frequency of metabolic syndromein systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), patients presenting in a tertiary care hospital. StudyDesign: Cross-sectional survey. Study Settings: Medical out-patient Department of JinnahHospital Lahore. Duration of Study: Six months duration from 25th June 2014 to 26th December2014). Subjects and Methods: Non-probability purposive sampling was done on 78 SLEpatients (as per operational definition), which were enrolled after obtaining their written informedconsent. Metabolic syndrome was labeled as per operational definition. Data was recorded ona specially designed performa. Results: From 78 cases of SLE there were 4% male and 96%were female. The mean age was 20- 60 years with standard deviation of 40.21±10.67 years. Itwas observed that there were 38.5% cases of SLE with family history of CHD, 66.67% patientsof SLE were smokers, 48.7% patients had central obesity, 47.4% patients had high fastingblood glucose, 44.9% cases were with low HDL and 39.7% patients had high blood pressure.Metabolic syndrome was found in 33.3% patients of SLE. Metabolic syndrome was significantlyassociated with high blood pressure (p= 0.00), central obesity (p= 0.00), high blood glucose(p= 0.00), low HDL (p= 0.00) and gender p=0.01) but association with age (p=0.33), smoking(p=0.73) and family history of CHD (p=0.32) was not significant. Conclusion: The frequency ofmetabolic syndrome in SLE patients presenting in a tertiary care hospital was found to be 33%.Metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with SLE.