This study looked at adults who had childhood-onset systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, specifically juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). It involved 76 people in the JSLE group and 79 in the JDM group, all from a single medical center, and followed them for an average of about 10 years to see how their health changed over time.
The main findings showed that adults with JSLE had higher rates of hypertension and dyslipidaemia, as well as higher total and LDL cholesterol levels, compared to those with JDM. Both groups had similar levels of damage accumulation, but higher body mass index was linked to more damage in both. The study also used a score to estimate heart disease risk, finding it was higher in the JSLE group, though overall adult cardiovascular risk scores were very low in both.
No safety concerns were reported, but it's important to be cautious because this was an observational study from one center, meaning it shows associations rather than proving causes. The results may not apply to everyone with these conditions. Readers should take this as early evidence that heart health risks might differ between these diseases, but more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand what they mean for care.