Abstract

Background: Hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension are risk factors for coronary artery disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Objective: To examine the recognition and management of hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension in patients with SLE before and after a quality improvement study.

Method: Patients with SLE have been followed up prospectively at the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic since 1970. The charts of all patients who entered the clinic since 1990 were reviewed to ensure completeness of data on anti-hypertensive treatment (AHT) and lipid lowering agents (LLA). Recognition and management of hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension were evaluated for the periods 1990–1995 and 1996–2001.

Results: Comparison of treatment between time periods showed that during 1990–1995 204/559 (36%) patients seen were hypertensive, of whom 180 (88%) were receiving AHT, and during 1996–2001 241/576 (42%) patients seen were hypertensive, of whom 232 (96%) were receiving AHT (p = 0.0013). A comparison of treatment for hypercholesterolaemia showed that 21/236 (9%) hypercholesterolaemic patients were being treated with LLA in the earlier period compared with 74/261 (28%) in the later period (p<0.0001).

Conclusions: Treatment for hypertension and hyperlipidaemia has increased in the past 6 years compared with the previous 6 years, but a number of patients eligible for these treatments remain untreated.