Table I.
Demographic data and traditional CVD risk factors in eRA patients and two control groups, age- and sex-matched
| Parameter | Baseline | Follow-Up | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eRA (N = 55) | Control I (RA) (N = 55) | Control II (non RA) (N = 29) | eRA (N = 55) | Control I (RA) (N = 55) | Control II (non RA) (N = 29) | |
| Women, n (%) | 43 (78) | 43 (78) | 22 (76) | 43 (78) | 43 (78) | 22 (76) |
| Age [years] | 58.5 ±14 | 58.2 ±13 | 58.2 ±13 | 59.6 ±14 | 60.9 ±13 | 60.9 ±13 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 29 (52.7) | 25 (50) | 12 (41.4) | 30 (54.5) | 31 (56) | 13 (45) |
| Diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 5 (9) | 5 (9) | 2 (7) | 7 (12.7) | 5 (9) | 2 (7) |
| HbA1c [mg/dl] | 5.5 ±3 | – | – | 5.3 ±2.5 | – | – |
| Chronic renal disease, n (%) | 2 (3.6) | 2 (3.6) | 1 (3.5) | 2 (3.6) | 2 (3.6) | 1 (3.5) |
| Serum creatinine [mg/dl] | 0.7 ±0.14 | 0.73 ±0.27 | 0.71 ±0.1 | 0.78 ±0.18 | 0.74 ±0.26 | 0.75 ±0.1 |
| Hypercholesterolemia, n (%) | 25 (45.5) | 30 (54.5) | 17 (58.6) | 28 (51) | 30 (54.5) | 17 (58.6) |
| HDL [mg/dl] | 51 ±15 | 64 ±20 | 61 ±20 | 57 ±15 | 65 ±20 | 75 ±12 |
| Cholesterol/HDL ratio | 3.9 ±1 | 3.3 ±1 | 3.5 ±1 | 3.6 ±0.9 | 3.5 ±1.3 | 3.1 ±0.6 |
| LDL cholesterol [mg/dl] | 125 ±36 | 108 ±34 | 122 ±40 | 135.6 ±34 | 112 ±30.5 | 128 ±37 |
| Triglycerides [mg/dl] | 120 ±55 | 127 ±70 | 153 ±80 | 118 ±46 | 114 ±60 | 114.5 ±46 |
| BMI [kg/m2] | 26.5 ±5 | 26.2 ±5 | 27.5 ±3 | 26.7 ±5 | 26 ±4.4 | 27 ±3 |
| Smoking now, n (%) | 13 (23.6) | 7 (13) | 2 (7) | 12 (22) | 7 (13) | 2 (7) |
| Smoking ever, n (%) | 27 (49) | 25 (45) | 7 (13) | |||
| Pack-years | 12 ±15 | 11 ±17 | 2 ±4 | 13 ±14 | 12 ±16 | 2.5 ±4 |
| FRS 10-year risk score | 6.2 ±6 | 4.3 ±3.7 | 4.9 ±5.4 | 6.2 ±5.8 | 4.5 ±4 | 4.1 ±5 |
| Family history of CVD, n (%) | 11 (20) | 28 (51) | 12 (41) | |||
| Treatment with NSAID, n (%) | 20 (36.4) | 20 (36.4) | 3 (10.3) | 11 (20) | 11 (20) | 3 (10.3) |
| Treatment with statins, n (%) | 2 (3.6) | 9 (16) | 3 (10.3) | 4 (7) | 9 (16) | 3 (10.3) |
| Treatment with glucocorticosteroids, n (%) | 49 (89)* | 34 (62) | 0 | 15 (27) | 30 (54.5) | 0 |
Data are expressed as mean (standard deviation) or number of patients (percentage). Statistically significant differences are bolded. BMI – body mass index, CVD – cardiovascular disease, HbA1c – glycated hemoglobin, FRS – Framingham 10-year risk score, NSAID – nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, eRA – early rheumatoid arthritis, RA – rheumatoid arthritis.
*
Glucocorticosteroids prescribed at baseline.