Prevalence of comorbidities and medication use in progressive systemic sclerosis in northeast Mexico.

BACKGROUND

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by exuberant fibrosis, caused by severe vasculopathy and vasospasm. Despite the impact of the disease on survival, epidemiological and comorbidity data on SSc are currently limited in Mexico.

METHODS

Observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive clinical study. Patients with SSc according to the 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria from 2 public healthcare centres in northeastern Mexico from the IMSS were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory variables were collected. The prevalence of comorbidities reported by the patients was investigated. Serology, transthoracic ultrasound, and high-resolution chest computed tomography were performed.

RESULTS

68 patients with SSc were included: 65 (95.3%) women, with a mean age of 51.5 ± 9.86 years, with the following distribution: 50 (73.5%) limited, 7 (10.3%) diffuse, 11 overlap (16.2%), 22 (32.3%) with systemic arterial hypertension, 14 (20.5%) with obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

The detection of systemic arterial hypertension, the most frequent comorbidities in multiple populations, could prevent cardiovascular complications.