Association between fat-free mass and lipid profile and cardiovascular risk indices in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Abstract

Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibit increased cardiovascular risk, partly explained by adverse fat distribution. This multicenter cross-sectional study investigated whether fat-free mass (FFM) is independently related to lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk and identified metabolic clusters combining body composition and lipid parameters in women with SLE from an Ibero-American cohort. In women with SLE, greater fat-free mass was associated with a more favorable lipid profile and selected atherogenic indices, independent of demographic and disease-related factors. Although causality cannot be inferred due to the cross-sectional design, these findings suggest that lean mass may represent an important component of cardiometabolic health in SLE.