Table 1.
Participant Characteristics According to RA Status
| Characteristics | RA patients (n=119) | Controls (n=27) |
|---|---|---|
| Demographic | ||
| Mean Age in years (SD); [range] | 54 (13); [21–80] | 50 (12) |
| Female (%) | 97 (82) | 13 (48) |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| Non-Hispanic White (%) | 44 (37) | |
| Non-Hispanic Black (%) | 18 (15) | |
| Hispanic (%) | 53 (44) | |
| Other (%) | 4 (3.4) | |
| Cardio-vascular risk factors | ||
| Ever smoker (%) | 52 (44) | 7 (26) |
| Current smoker (%) | 13 (11) | 1 (4) |
| Hypertension (%) | 46 (39) | 10 (37) |
| Diabetes (%) | 15 (13) | 2 (8) |
| Mean BMI (SD) in kg/m2 | 28.5 (5.9) | 33.6 (4.8) |
| Mean total cholesterol (SD), mg/dL | 191 (37) | |
| Mean LDL-C (SD), mg/dL | 110 (32) | |
| Mean HDL-C (SD), mg/dL | 59 (19) | |
| RA characteristics | ||
| Median RA Duration in years (IQR) | 6.7 (2 – 14.1) | |
| RF or anti-CCP (%) | 91 (76) | |
| Median DAS28-CRP in units (IQR) | 3.9 (3.0–4.7) | |
| Mean CDAI in units (SD) | 18.2 (12.1) | |
| Mean HAQ in units (SD) | 1.7 (.8) | |
| Median AM stiffness in min (IQR) | 20 (5 – 50) | |
| Median CRP (mg/L) (IQR) | 2.51 (1.1 – 6.6) | 0.64 (0.45–2.94) |
| Median IL-6 (pg/mL) (IQR) | 2.3 (1.4 – 7.3) | 0.94 (0.80–2.26) |
| Median troponin-I | undetectable | |
| Median BNP (pg/mL) (IQR) | 15.4 (10–26.2) | |
| No DMARD (%) | 15 (13) | |
| Non-biologic DMARDs (%) | 91 (77) | |
| Methotrexate (%) | 77 (67) | |
| Other non-biologic2(%) | 26 (22) | |
| Biologic DMARD (%) | 45 (38) | |
| TNF inhibitors (%) | 35 (29) | |
| Non-TNF biologics (%) | 10 (8) | |
| Abatacept (%) | 8 (7) | |
| Other Non-TNF biologic3(%) | 2 (2) | |
| Prednisone (%) | 39 (33) | 0 (0) |
| NSAIDs (%) | 49 (41) | 0 (0) |
| CAC score | ||
| CAC score null | 78 (65.6) | 9 (69.2) |
| CAC score 0–99 units | 19 (16) | 2 (15.4) |
| CAC score≥100 units | 22 (18) | 2 (15.4) |
| Myocardial Structure | ||
| Mean LVMI, per grams/ht2.7(SD) | 29.9 (5.41) | |
| Mean EDVI, per mL/m2(SD) | 53.8 (11) | |
| Median ESVI, per mL/m2(IQR) | 19.4 (16–23) | |
| Myocardial Function | ||
| Mean Ejection Fraction (per %) (SD) | 62.9 (4.5) | |
| Mean E/E’ (SD) | 8.5 (2.4) | |
| Mean Stroke Volume Index, per mL/m2(SD) | 58.6 (13.9) | |
| Mean Cardiac Index, per L/min/m2(SD) | 2.29 (0.38) | |
| Diastolic Dysfunction (yes v. no) % | 49 (43) | |
1
Legend: patients may be on more than one non-biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD).
2
other non-biologic include Sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine or leflunomide
3
other biologic include Rituximab and Tocilizumab. SD: Standard Deviation, IQR: inter quantile range, RF: rheumatoid factor, CCP: cyclic citrullinated protein antibody, DAS: disease activity score, HAQ: health assessment questionnaire, AM: morning, CRP: C-reactive protein, IL-6: interleukin 6, BNP: brain natriuretic peptide, CAC: coronary artery calcium, LVMI: left ventricle mass indexed to height 2.73, EDVI: end diastolic volume index, ESVI: end systolic volume index.