Metabolic Syndrome and its Components in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and their Association with Disease Activity and Duration

• Main Authors: Maryam Mobini, Fatemeh Niksolat, Adele Bahar, Rezaali Mohammadpour, Maryam Karimi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2020-02-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
• Subjects: epidemiology; frequency; inflammatory arthritis; obesity
• Online Access: https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/13482/43180_CE[Ra1]_F(KM)_PF1(AG_SHU)_PFA(SHU)_PB(AG_SHU)_GC(Su_KM)_PN(SL).pdf
• ISSN: 2249-782X; 0973-709X

Introduction: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease and there are some concerns about the association of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) with this disorder. Aim: To evaluate the association between MetS and its components with RA disease activity and chronicity. Materials and Methods: The present investigation was a cross-sectional study on 200 consecutive RA patients (30-60- year-old, all of them female) according to the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/ EULAR) 2010. MetS was diagnosed according to the definition of 2005 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP) III and International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Disease activity was measured by the 28 joint count of Disease Activity Score (DAS 28), and functional status was evaluated by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Disease chronicity was defined as early or established RA, based on disease duration of less or more than six months. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS version 19 by Student’s t-test and chi-square test and ANOVA tests and results were considered significant at p<0.05. Results: The mean age of RA patients was 50.29±6.2 years, and all were female. MetS according to NCEP/ATP III and IDF criteria was present in 109 (54.5%) and 112 (56%) patients. Hyperglycaemia was significantly higher in patients with established active RA (p=0.003), but other MetS components were not different between groups. MetS had more related active disease as assessed by DAS28 and greater disability as assessed by the HAQ (p<0.001). Conclusion: The frequency of MetS was not significantly different in subgroups of RA according to disease activity or duration, but it was found in more than half of RA patients. Comparison of MetS components showed more frequency of hyperglycaemia in patients with active disease.