SAT0420 Increased resistant hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective cohort study

Background Resistant hypertension (RHTN) is characterised by blood pressure that remains ≥140/90 mmHg despite concurrent use of 3 antihypertensive drugs. In the general population, RHTN is associated with a 47% increased risk of cardiovascular events. 1 Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have increased cardiovascular risk; however, no research has addressed the incidence, prevalence, or risk factors associated with RHTN in patients with SLE. Objectives To compare the risk of RHTN in patients with SLE and frequency-matched controls without SLE; to define factors associated with RHTN in patients with SLE. Methods We used a validated algorithm (94% PPV) to identify patients with SLE from the electronic health records (EHR) at an academic medical centre. 2 We established a control cohort matched by age, race, and sex with a 5:1 control-case ratio. Follow-up began at first ICD9 code for SLE (cases) or first ICD9 code (controls) and continued until RHTN diagnosis or last note. RHTN diagnosis required either the simultaneous use of 3 antihypertensive drugs and a mean blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg in the following 6 months, or the use of ≥4 antihypertensive drugs simultaneously. We used logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards (CPH) models to compare risk of RHTN between groups, with CPH performed on incident cases only. Results We studied 1044 patients with SLE and 5241 controls (median age 42, [31–54] 90% female and 70% Caucasian). Of the total cohort, RHTN developed in 106 SLE patients (10%) and 278 controls (4%). The incidence rate of RHTN was 14.7 cases/1000 person-years in SLE patients compared to 7.4 in controls [HR 1.66, 95% CI, 1.25–2.21] (figure 1). In logistic regression models, RHTN was associated with older age, black race, male gender and end stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients with SLE had a higher risk of RHTN when adjusted for age, sex, race, calendar year, and ESRD [HR 1.53, 1.15–2.05]. In an analysis among SLE patients, RHTN was associated with mortality in an unadjusted model [HR 3.38, 2.20–5.18]. This association remained when age, sex and race were added to the model [HR 2.58, 1.65–4.03], but when ESRD, calendar year and creatinine were included, the association was no longer significant [HR 1.51, 0.91–2.51]. Log rank test: p=0.000391 Conclusions Patients with SLE have a higher risk of RHTN compared to frequency-matched controls. RHTN is an important comorbiditiy for clinicans to recognise in SLE, as it is associated with a 3.3-fold higher risk of mortality. References [1] Muntner P, et al. Hypertension2014;64(5):1012–1021. [2] Barnado A, et al. Arthritis Care Res2017;69(5):687–693. Acknowledgements VUMC’s Synthetic Derivative supported by institutional funding and by the CTSA grant ULTR000445 from NCATS/NIH. CTSA awaUL1TR000445 from NCATS, The Rheumatology Research Foundation, Lupus Research Alliance and K-23 award from the NIAMS. Disclosure of Interest None declared