Variables associated with subclinical atherosclerosis among rheumatoid arthritis patients of Gulf Cooperative Council countries.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the cardiovascular disease (CVD) as demonstrated by carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and the cluster risk factors of CVD including traditional and non-traditional, urinary functions, iron buildup, and hemorheology in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) countries.

METHODS

Carotid intima-media thickness was obtained from 216 RA patients, free of atherosclerotic diseases. The correlation between cIMT and the possible CVD risk factors was carried out using regression analysis.

Results

The mean cIMT was observed as 0.58±0.11 mm. Mean age was 48±13 years. Univariate analysis revealed a positive association (p less than 0.05) between cIMT and age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure (SBp), and diastolic blood pressure, c-reactive protein (CRP), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), mean cell volume, platelet, monocytes, eosinophils, ferritin, creatinine, and uric acid. Negative relationship was observed between cIMT and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), transferrin, and high-density lipoprotein. Multiple linear regression analysis exhibited a positive association between cIMT and the age, LDL, eosinophil, SBp, and the ESR, whereas, negative connection with the GFR and transferrin.

Conclusion

In this study, we found that the eosinophils, and low transferrin, are the potential candidates for the CVD risk factors in RA patients. Fasting blood glucose level was also observed to be a significant risk factor in diabetic as well as non-diabetic RA. The remaining CVD risk factors in RA patients of GCC countries including older age, high SBp, ESR, LDL, and low GFR were similar to the international population.