Risk of ischemic stroke in patients with systemic sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

<div><p><i>Background.</i> Several chronic inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and idiopathic inflammatory myositis, have been shown to increase risk of ischemic stroke but the data on systemic sclerosis (SSc) remains unclear.</p><p><i>Methods.</i> We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies that reported odds ratio, relative risk, hazard ratio, or standardized incidence ratio comparing risk of ischemic stroke in patients with SSc versus non-SSc participants. Pooled risk ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird.</p><p><i>Results.</i> Four retrospective cohort studies were identified and included in our data analysis. We found a statistically significant elevated ischemic stroke risk in patients with SSc with a pooled risk ratio of 1.68 (95% CI, 1.26–2.24). The statistical heterogeneity was moderate with an I² of 69%.</p><p><i>Conclusions.</i> Our study demonstrated a statistically significant increased ischemic stroke risk among patients with SSc.</p></div

Patients with giant cell arteritis have a lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

<p><i>Objective</i>: The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients who are recently diagnosed with giant cell arteritis (GCA) with age- and sex-matched controls.</p> <p><i>Methods</i>: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies that (1) consisted of GCA cohort and non-GCA cohort that was randomly selected from the same population and (2) provided prevalences of DM at the time of diagnosis for patients with GCA and at the index date for controls. Pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effect, Mantel–Haenszel analysis.</p> <p><i>Results</i>: Five studies with 903 patients with GCA and 1064 controls were identified and included in our data analysis. We demonstrated a statistically significant lower prevalence of DM among patients with GCA with the pooled OR of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.57–0.97).</p> <p><i>Conclusion</i>: At diagnosis, patients with GCA had a lower prevalence of DM. Whether DM could be a protective factor against the development of GCA needs further investigations.</p

Results of Information Search.

<p>Results of Information Search.</p

Comparison of eGFR Change Between Statin and Control Groups.

<p>A) Rate of eGFR Change Per Year (ml/min/1.73 m²), B) Total Change in eGFR.</p

Characteristics of included studies.

<p>Values are presented as mean ± SD or median (interquartile range).</p><p>^a Mild CKD (eGFR ≥30– <60 ml/min/1.73 m²)</p><p>^b Severe CKD (eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m²)</p><p>* Significant side effects (p<0.05) in the statin group compared with the control group.</p><p>Abbreviation: CHD = coronary heart disease, DM = diabetes mellitus, eGFR = estimated glomerular filtration rate, HTN = hypertension, LDL = Low-density lipoprotein, RCT = Randomized controlled trial.</p><p>Characteristics of included studies.</p