Session Information
Title: Rheumatoid Arthritis - Clinical Aspects II: Clinical Features & Comorbidity/Cardiovascular Disease
Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)
Background/Purpose: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of death in this group. Thus, the investigation of metabolic syndrome (MS) is critical, as designating a number of other cardiovascular risk factors: abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and hyperglycemia.To evaluate the frequency of MS in patients with RA and their relationship with disease activity and the different therapies used, in particular blocking tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF).
Methods: We selected 107 consecutive patients diagnosed with RA and included only patients with data necessary for determining the MS according to NCEP-ATPIII. Disease activity was determined using the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28). Score greater than 3.2 and was considered the cutoff point for disease activity.
Results: The study included 97 patients. 47 (48.5%) were using anti-TNF in combination with methotrexate (MTX). 50 (51.5%) patients were using only synthetic DMARDs: 36 (72 %) MTX, 22 (44%), leflunomide, 19 (38%) chloroquine and 8 (16%) sulphasalazine. The overall frequency of MS was 37.1%. There was no significant difference between the prevalence of MS in patients using synthetic DMARDs only or anti-TNF. We did not observe any association between RA disease activity and MS in our study. The use of chloroquine was associated with a lower frequency of MS (p = 0.005), and BMI was higher in this group (p <0.001). In multivariate analysis including all variables with p <0.200, only the use of chloroquine and BMI remained in the model (r = 0.465, p <0.001).
Conclusion: The use of anti-TNF was not associated with lower incidence of MS compared to the use of synthetic DMARDs only, and among these, chloroquine was associated with a lower frequency of MS. Considering these results, the safety profile and low cost, chloroquine remains a valuable adjuvant therapy in this patient population at high risk for CVD.
Disclosure:
F. G. G. Chaer,
None;
J. Lucena,
None;
R. C. Reis,
None;
F. Brasil,
None;
M. Melo,
None;
A. Callegari,
None;
B. Souza,
None.
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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/evaluation-of-metabolic-syndrome-in-97-patients-with-rheumatoid-arthritis/