Interestingly, when we analyzed the IRF5 rs2004640, rs2070197 and rs10954213 polymorphisms separately, we observed a protective effect of the IRF5 rs2004640 GG genotype against the risk of CV events after adjusting the results for sex, age at RA diagnosis and traditional CV disease risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity and smoking habit) (HR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.38 to 0.92, P = 0.02) (Table 2). This evidence concerns the gene IRF5 and metabolic syndrome.