We found that patients with SLE had a threefold to fourfold significantly higher risk of poor prognosis adjusted for demographic characteristics (age and gender), baseline levels of systemic inflammatory measure (CRP) and traditional CV risk factors (baseline total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, smoking, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, BMI and waist circumference) and subclinical atherosclerosis measures (cIMT and carotid plaque). Here, CRP is linked to diabetes mellitus.