Bai YH, et al. – The physicians explored the risk factors for cardiovascular events (CVE) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD)–related mortality in Chinese antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis (AAV) patients. They concluded that in addition to the traditional risk factors, Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) was an independent predictor of CVE and CVD–related mortality in these patients.

Methods

• This study enrolled 504 AAV patients.
• The predictive value of variables associated with CVE and CVD–related mortality were evaluated.

Results

• During follow–up of a median duration of 38 (range 1–228) months, 117 out of 504 patients had CVE.
• Independent predictors of CVE were age (increase by 10 yrs, hazard ratio [HR] 1.431, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.204–1.701, p=0.000), systolic blood pressure (increase by 10 mm Hg, HR 1.204, 95% CI 1.093–1.326, p=0.000), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (HR 0.990, 95% CI 0.983–0.997, p=0.007), high–density lipoprotein level (HR 0.595, 95% CI 0.354–0.999, p=0.049) and the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) (HR 1.037, 95% CI 1.009–1.065, p=0.008).
• 41 patients died from CVD.
• Independent predictors of CVD–related mortality were age (increase by 10 yrs; HR 1.715, 95% CI 1.229–2.394, p=0.002), eGFR (HR 0.985, 95% CI 0.972–0.998, p=0.027), pre–existing CV disease (HR 3.207, 95% CI 1.671–6.155, p=0.000) and BVAS (HR 1.065, 95% CI 1.019–1.112, p=0.005).
• CVE and CVD–related mortality were further determined after two years since diagnosis, and found that BVAS were still an independent predictor of CVE and CVD–related mortality.