Global prevalence and associated factors of metabolic syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Samethadka Nayak, S; Ghodous, S; Keetha, NR; Gurram, A; Letafatkar, N; Ahlawat, P; Habibi, A; Boora, SR; Hashemi, SM; Cheetirala, S; Amouzadeh-Lichahi, M; Boateng, S; Jafari, M; Ponnala, M; Khorami, A; Joshi, S; Saberi, I; Moodi Ghalibaf, A; Arumairaj, A; Amini-Salehi, E; Sharma, N

doi:10.1177/09612033261477274

Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome

Global prevalence and associated factors of metabolic syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

LupusPublished 9 Sep 2026Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

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Authors' conclusion

MetS is prevalent among individuals with SLE and is influenced by demographic, clinical, and treatment-related factors.

Study context

Population: Individuals with SLE in observational studies reporting metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science searched through January 4, 2026)

Outcome: Pooled prevalence of MetS in SLE

Methodological detailsrandom-effects meta-analysis, updated systematic review

Random-effects meta-analysis
Updated systematic review

Pooled result

As reported in the abstract

Overall pooled prevalence of MetS in SLE

Pooled prevalence

0.27

95% CI 0.24–0.30

Further pooled results

Medication use and risk of MetS

	← Lower odds ←→ Higher odds →	OR (95% CI)	P value
HCQ	0.512	0.66 (0.52–0.83)	P < 0.01
CYC	0.512	1.39 (1.06–1.81)	P = 0.02
AZA	0.512	1.25 (1.00–1.55)	P = 0.04
MMF	0.512	1.13 (1.03–1.23)	P = 0.01
Steroids	0.512	1.34 (0.97–1.83)	P = 0.07
MTX	0.512	1.07 (0.78–1.47)	P = 0.84
Cyclosporine	0.512	1.19 (0.64–2.21)	P = 0.33
	0.512Odds ratio (log scale)

Outcome	Estimate	P value
Characteristics of patients with vs without MetSMetS vs Without MetS · older	Hedges' g (age) 0.47	P < 0.01
Characteristics of patients with vs without MetSMetS vs Without MetS · higher BMI	Hedges' g (BMI) 0.88	P < 0.01
Characteristics of patients with vs without MetSMetS vs Without MetS · higher total cholesterol	Hedges' g (total cholesterol) 0.39	P < 0.01
Characteristics of patients with vs without MetSMetS vs Without MetS · higher LDL	Hedges' g (LDL) 0.41	P < 0.01

Prevalence of MetS by sex (subgroup)

Male: 0.36 (95% CI 0.25-0.47)
Female: 0.27 (95% CI 0.23-0.30)

Prevalence of MetS by continent (subgroup)

Africa: 0.36 (95% CI 0.30-0.41)
South America: 0.32 (95% CI 0.24-0.40)
Asia: 0.27 (95% CI 0.22-0.32)
Europe: 0.23 (95% CI 0.18-0.28)
North America: 0.21 (95% CI 0.14-0.30)

Original publication

Global prevalence and associated factors of metabolic syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lupus. Published 9 September 2026. doi:10.1177/09612033261477274

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