Table 2.
Risk factors for atrial fibrillation at rheumatoid arthritis (RA) incidence among 813 patients with RA in 1980–2007.
| Characteristic | Hazard ratio (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| At rheumatoid arthritis incidence | |
| ESR at RA incidence, per 10 mm/hour increase | 1.10 (0.99, 1.22) |
| Rheumatoid factor positive | 1.35 (0.88, 2.08) |
| Current smoker | 1.29 (0.78, 2.13) |
| Former smoker | 1.00 (0.63, 1.57) |
| Family history of coronary heart disease | 1.16 (0.72, 1.89) |
| At rheumatoid arthritis incidence or during follow-up (time-dependent) | |
| Comorbid condition | |
| Hypertension | 2.01 (0.72, 5.59) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 1.39 (0.86, 2.24) |
| Dyslipidemia | 0.77 (0.48, 1.25) |
| Coronary heart disease | 1.53 (0.96, 2.45) |
| Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) | 1.33 (0.87, 2.04) |
| Underweight (BMI < 20 kg/m2) | 1.51 (0.88, 2.58) |
| Alcohol abuse | 1.87 (0.92, 3.81) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis disease characteristics | |
| Rheumatoid nodules | 1.42 (0.91, 2.22) |
| Erosive or destructive RA | 1.29 (0.84, 1.98) |
| Severe extra-articular RA* | 3.29 (1.98, 5.48) |
| Large joint swelling | 1.48 (0.85, 2.57) |
| ESR > 60 mm/hr on 3 occasions | 2.04 (1.19, 3.50) |
| Major joint arthroplasty | 1.45 (0.92, 2.26) |
| Medications | |
| Methotrexate | 1.46 (0.93, 2.28) |
| Hydroxychloroquine | 0.91 (0.59, 1.41) |
| Other DMARDs** | 1.35 (0.83, 2.18) |
| Biologic agent | 1.34 (0.57, 3.15) |
| Corticosteroids | 1.40 (0.87, 2.27) |
| Cox-2 inhibitor | 1.73 (1.10, 2.73) |
| ASA (≥6 tabs/day for ≥3 mo) | 1.03 (0.63, 1.70) |
| NSAID | 0.96 (0.49, 1.90) |
*Pericarditis, pleuritis, Felty's syndrome, major cutaneous or other organ vasculitis, neuropathy, scleritis, episcleritis, retinal vasculitis, or glomerulonephritis.
**Disease modifying antirheumatic drug includes gold, sulfasalazine, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, D-penicillamine, or leflunomide.
ASA: acetylated salicylates; BMI: body mass index; CI: confidence interval; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (Westergren); NSAID: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.