Table 3 Linear regression analysis to predict arterial stiffness parameters and carotid IMT according to SLE patient/control categorization, after adjusting for diabetes mellitus and hypertension

Aortic strain (%)

− 8.9

− 11.5 to − 6.2

< 0.001

Aortic distensibility

− 5.8

− 7.6 to − 4

< 0.001

Aortic stiffness index

4.9

2.9 to 6.7

< 0.001

FMD (%)

− 10.1

− 12.6 to − 7.6

< 0.001

Carotid IMT (max)

0.07

0.02 to 0.13

0.014

Carotid distension (min)

− 170.4

− 246 to − 94

< 0.001

Carotid CC (min)

− 0.45

− 0.68 to − .022

< 0.001

Carotid DC (min)

− 0.01

− 0.02 to − 0.01

< 0.001

Carotid B-stiffness index (max)

4.5

2.9 to 6.1

< 0.001

Carotid AI (max)

2.3

− 1.1 to 5.6

0.184

Carotid PWV (max)

2.1

1.5 to 2.8

< 0.001

Carotid-femoral PWV (max; corrected)

2.0

1.5 to 2.5

< 0.001