Table 1.
Main clinical characteristics of the 380 patients with RA divided according to the presence of arterial HTN
| Variables | No Arterial HTN, n = 194 | Arterial HTN, n = 186 | P Value | Total Study Population, N = 380 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, y | 54 ±11 | 62 ±11 | <0.001 | 58 ±12 |
| Female sex | 63 | 66 | 0.49 | 64 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 24.4 ± 4.1 | 27.6 ±4.4 | <0.001 | 25.8 ±4.6 |
| Waist circumference, cm | 88 ±13 | 99 ±11 | <0.001 | 93 ±13 |
| Obesity | 5 | 26 | <0.001 | 15 |
| SBP, mm Hg | 126 ±14 | 136 ±18 | <0.001 | 131 ±18 |
| DBP, mm Hg | 81 ±7 | 84 ±10 | 0.002 | 82 ±9 |
| Dyslipidemia | 52 | 66 | 0.005 | 59 |
| Active smoker | 40 | 34 | 0.09 | 37 |
| DM | 3 | 17 | <0.001 | 10 |
| GFR, mL/min/1.73m2 | 97 ± 21 | 91 ±25 | 0.01 | 94 ±23 |
| LDL‐C, mg/dL | 121 (98–139) | 119 (100–135) | 0.65 | 120 (94–142) |
| TG, mg/dL | 104 (74–136) | 134 (83–170) | 0.006 | 120 (80–162) |
| CRP, mg/L | 3.3 (1.5–5.8) | 5.4 (2.2–7.9) | 0.02 | 4.4 (1.8–6.8) |
| RA status | ||||
| RF positive | 47 | 49 | 0.83 | 38 |
| CCP positive | 53 | 46 | 0.41 | 38 |
| Duration of RA, y | 12 ± 9 | 14 ±11 | 0.07 | 13 ±10 |
| Clinical disease activity index | 8 ± 7 | 14 ±10 | <0.001 | 11 ±10 |
| High activity of disease | 9 | 29 | <0.001 | 19 |
| Pharmacological treatment | ||||
| β‐Blockers | 2 | 33 | <0.001 | 17 |
| ACEIs/ARBs | — | 63 | <0.001 | 30 |
| Diuretics | — | 20 | <0.001 | 10 |
| Calcium antagonists | — | 12 | <0.001 | 6 |
| Antiplatelet agents | 6 | 24 | <0.001 | 14 |
| Statins | 13 | 33 | <0.001 | 23 |
| NSAIDs | 35 | 33 | 0.76 | 34 |
| Methotrexate | 42 | 47 | 0.34 | 44 |
| Hydroxychloroquine | 9 | 10 | 0.78 | 11 |
| Immunomodulatory/anticytotoxic agents | 69 | 66 | 0.47 | 68 |
| Corticosteroids | 34 | 44 | 0.06 | 39 |
| Echocardiography | ||||
| LVEDV, mL/m2 | 50 ± 11 | 48 ± 11 | 0.03 | 49 ± 11 |
| LV relative wall thickness | 0.43 ±0.07 | 0.47 ± 0.07 | <0.001 | 0.45 ± 0.07 |
| Concentric LV geometry | 47 | 78 | <0.001 | 63 |
| LVMI, g/m2.7 | 41 ± 11 | 48 ±11 | <0.001 | 45 ±11 |
| LVH | 20 | 48 | <0.001 | 29 |
| LVEF, % | 65 ± 6 | 66 ± 6 | 0.21 | 65 ± 6 |
| LV stress‐corrected midwall shortening | 87 ± 15 | 83 ±14 | 0.006 | 85 ±15 |
| Low LV stress‐corrected midwall shortening | 49 | 57 | 0.14 | 53 |
| LV GLS, % | −18.6 ± −3.7 | −18.2 ± 3.3 | 0.38 | −18.4 ± −3.5 |
| Low LV GLS (<16%) | 20 | 29 | 0.16 | 24 |
| E/A ratio transmitral flow | 1.05 ± 0.31 | 0.86 ±0.36 | <0.001 | 0.95 ±0.35 |
| E/E' ratio | 6.0 ± 1.4 | 6.7 ±1.9 | <0.001 | 6.3 ±1.7 |
| LV diastolic dysfunction | 16 | 39 | <0.001 | 28 |
| Maximal LA volume, mL/m2 | 18 ± 6 | 20 ± 7 | 0.008 | 19 ± 7 |
Abbreviations: ACEI, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin II receptor blocker; BMI, body mass index; CCP, cyclic citrullinated peptide; CRP, C‐reactive protein; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; DM, diabetes mellitus; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; GLS, global longitudinal strain; HTN, hypertension; IQR, interquartile range; LA, left atrial; LDL‐C, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol; LV, left ventricular; LVEDV, left ventricular end‐diastolic volume; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; LVH, left ventricular hypertrophy; LVMI, left ventricular mass index; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor; SBP, systolic blood pressure; SD, standard deviation; TG, triglycerides. Data are presented as %, mean ± SD, or median (IQR) unless otherwise noted.