Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
High levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 associate with a ‘vasculopathic’ phenotype in systemic sclerosis with higher mortality
Main finding · MortalityResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 2.17 95% CI 1.54–3.04Authors' conclusion
The increased mortality in participants with SSc and Q4 VCAM-1 levels is attributable to increased frequency of vascular disease manifestations.
Study context
- Population
- Participants with SSc from the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study87.1% female
- Participants
- 388 participants
- Exposure
- Upper quartile serum VCAM-1 vs other quartiles
- Outcome
- Mortality
Methodological detailslinked with the National Death Index, stratified into VCAM-1 quartiles
- Linked with the National Death Index
- Stratified into VCAM-1 quartiles
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio
2.17
95% CI 1.54–3.04
P < 0.001
Q4vs Others
HR 2.17 (95% CI 1.54–3.04); P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause-specific mortality (listed as cause or contributor to death)Q4vs OthersPAH | 3.08 (1.68–5.65) | P < 0.001 | |
| Cause-specific mortality (listed as cause or contributor to death)Q4vs OthersSSc-attributable myocardial disease | 2.85 (1.51–5.38) | P = 0.001 | |
| Cause-specific mortality (listed as cause or contributor to death)Q4vs OthersAll-cause CVD | 2.50 (1.60–3.89) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.20.5125Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Organ manifestations across VCAM-1 quartiles
- Q4 more likely to have pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
- P = 0.028
- Q4 more likely to have SSc-attributable myocardial disease
- P = 0.009
- Q4 more likely to have digital ulcers
- P = 0.003
- No statistically significant differences in sex, age, disease duration, disease subtype, autoantibody profile or FVC across quartiles
- Q4 not associated with ILD presence, severity or cause-specific mortality
Original publication
High levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 associate with a ‘vasculopathic’ phenotype in systemic sclerosis with higher mortality. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 29 July 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →