Cardiovascular risk assessment with carotid ultrasound in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Background/objective: To assess the Cardiovascular Risk (CV) in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients using carotid ultrasound additionally to the traditional CV risk factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional case control study was performed including RA patients and matched controls. This study was performed from July-2019 to January-2020. Population over 75 years old, established CV disease and/or chronic kidney disease (from III Stage) were excluded. Statistical analysis included a multivariate variance analysis (Manova) and a negative binomial regression adjusted by confounding factors.

Results: Overall, a total of 200 cases and 111 controls were included in the study. Demographical and clinical variables were comparable between groups. A relationship between age, BMI and high blood pressure was detected in both groups. RA patients showed higher intima-media thickness and higher plaque account compared to controls and it was related to the disease duration and DAS28 score.

Conclusion: RA leads to a higher intima-media thickness, and this is related to the disease duration and DAS28 score. These findings support that RA acts as an independent cardiovascular risk factor.

Keywords: Artritis reumatoide; Cardiovascular risk; Carotid ultrasound; Ecografía carotídea; Rheumatoid arthritis; Riesgo cardiovascular.