Correlation between cardiovascular co-morbidity, inflammation and pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, an observational study

Abstract

Master thesis, Programme in Medicine. TITLE: Correlation between cardiovascular co-morbidity, inflammation and pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, an observational study. AUTHOR: Louise Hansson. Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease, characterized by persistent inflammation and damage of joints. About 1% of the Swedish population is diagnosed with RA, and it is three times more common in women than in men. Purpose The aim of this study was to analyse a link between pain, inflammation and cardiovascular comorbidity in a cohort of patients with established RA. Method Data collected from 198 patients (women and men) diagnosed with RA were analysed regarding the history of cardiovascular (CV) events and current CV medications, pain perception and disease activity. Disease activity score, visual analogue scale, tender points, blood lipid profile, smoking habits, body mass index were taken into account. Results In the study cohort, 19% of women and 50% of men reported to have CV co-morbidity, indicating that women had four times lower self-reported CV co-morbidity (OR 0.23, [CI 95% 0.11-0.49]). Women had significantly lower BMI* and triglycerides* as well as higher HDL* than men. It was discovered that men without CVC and men with CVC were similar when comparing risk factors for developing CVC. On the other hand, women with CVC and women without CVC had significant differences in BMI*, triglycerides* and age*. Women experienced more pain than men did when valued tender points as they had a significant higher number of tender points than men*. Conclusions Fewer women than men had cardiovascular co-morbidity. Women with CVC do follow traditional pattern of risk factors for CVC whereas men without CVC and men with CVC were similar when comparing risk factors for developing CVC. Women and men perceive pain differently when value tender points. CVC do not tend to contribute to an increased pain in women or in men. Key Words: Rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular co-morbidity