{
  "id": 9008846,
  "title": "Lupus patients can lower their heart disease risk by sticking to one common treatment, study says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/lupus-patients-can-lower-their-heart-disease-risk-by-sticking-to-one",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-21T21:20:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-lupus-patients-heart-disease-common.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study has found that lupus patients can lower their risk of heart disease by consistently taking their medication, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), the most common treatment for the disease. Researchers from the Yale Lupus Program discovered that patients who did not adhere to their HCQ regimen had a higher risk of heart disease within one to two years, even though the increase in risk was relatively small, averaging just under 7% for those who did not take their medication as prescribed. Lead researcher Dr. Shivani Garg emphasized the importance of clear data about HCQ levels and their impact on heart health and flare-ups to help patients make informed decisions about their treatment. Lupus is a condition where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, causing inflammation that can affect various organs, including the heart, and leads to a higher risk of heart disease compared to the general population. Hydroxychloroquine is a cornerstone of lupus management, as it not only decreases lupus flares but also reduces long-term damage to the body. The study, which involved 248 lupus patients, measured their HCQ blood levels and prescription adherence, revealing that patients with low blood levels and poor adherence had increased risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of heart disease.",
  "summary": "Lupus patients can significantly decrease their risk of heart disease if they consistently take their medication, a new study says. People with lupus had a higher risk of heart disease if they didn't consistently take hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), the most common treatment for the disease, researchers report in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}