Variables associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients: Sex-specific associations and differential effects of disease activity and age.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To advance the study of variables associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with special consideration for the degree of disease activity, age and gender.

Methods

The carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and the presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques along with clinical and biochemical characteristics were determined in 214 RA patients.

Results

Adjusted analysis reveals that men had a 0.059 mm significantly increased cIMT compared with women (p = 0.001; R2 = 3.8%) and that age was associated with cIMT (β = 0.0048 mm; p = 0.0001; R2 = 16%). Interestingly, we observed a significant interaction between gender and age. Thus, the effect of age on cIMT was significantly increased (12%) in men compared with women (p-value for in

SUBMITTER: Taverner D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5832263 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature