¿Qué papel juega la actividad de la enfermedad en el riesgo cardiovascular de la artritis reumatoide? / What role does rheumatoid arthritis disease activity have in cardiovascular risk?

La artritis reumatoide (AR) presenta una mortalidad de 1,3 a 3 veces superior a la población general; la principal causa de muerte son las complicaciones cardiovasculares (40-50%). En el abordaje inicial se debe incluir la valoración del riesgo cardiovascular (RCV) mediante algoritmos adaptados para esta población. Si bien el SCOREm constituye un avance importante, hay datos que indican que podría infradiagnosticar la ateroesclerosis subclínica. Objetivo: Estimar la fuerza de asociación entre la ecografia carotídea y el SCOREm en esta población, así como la implicancia de la actividad de la enfermedad. Metodología: Estudio observacional, transversal y analítico, realizado en el Hospital General de Ciudad Real durante el periodo junio de 2013-mayo de 2014. Se realizó la valoración del RCV y según el SCOREm se dividió a la población en riesgo bajo y alto (medio, alto y muy alto). Se estudió la presencia de ateroesclerosis subclínica en los pacientes de riesgo bajo. Resultados: Del total de 119 pacientes con AR, el 73,1% presentaba factores de riesgo tradicionales. Se excluyeron 38 pacientes por evento cardiovascular previo, diabetes mellitus y nefropatía. Se objetivó placa ateromatosa en el 14,63% de la población de riesgo bajo. El factor con mayor asociación con la presencia de aterosclerosis subclínica fue el grado de actividad moderada/alta de la AR medida mediante el SDAI, con un OR de 4,95 (IC 95%: 1,53-16,01). Conclusiones: Aunque existe una aceptable asociación entre la presencia de aterosclerosis subclínica y el SCOREm, hay una proporción no despreciable de pacientes clasificados de riesgo bajo con placas ateromatosas. La actividad de la enfermedad fue el factor de riesgo más asociado al incremento del RCV

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a 1.3 to 3-fold increase in mortality, being the major cause of death from cardiovascular complications (40%-50%). Therefore, the initial approach should include cardiovascular risk (CVR) assessment using algorithms adapted for this population. Although, SCOREM is an important advance, there are data indicating that subclinical atherosclerosis may be underdiagnosed. Objective: To estimate the strength of association between carotid ultrasound and SCOREM in this population, as well as the implication of disease activity. Methodology: Cross-sectional, observational, analytical study performed at the General Hospital of Ciudad Real, Spain, between June 2013 and May 2014. The evaluation of CVR was performed and, according to SCOREM, the population was divided into low and high (medium, high and very high) risk. We studied the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in low-risk patients. Results: Of the total of 119 RA patients, 73.1% had traditional risk factors. Thirty-eight patients were excluded because of a previous cardiovascular event, diabetes mellitus and/or nephropathy. Atheromatous plaque was observed in 14.63% of the low-risk population. The factor with the strongest association to the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was a moderate or high activity of RA measured by the simplified disease activity index with an odds ratio of 4.95 (95% CI: 1.53-16.01). Conclusions: Although there was an acceptable correlation between the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis and SCOREM, there was a considerable proportion of atheromatous plaques in low-risk patients. Disease activity was the risk factor most closely associated with increased CVR

What role does rheumatoid arthritis disease activity have in cardiovascular risk? / ¿Qué papel juega la actividad de la enfermedad en el riesgo cardiovascular de la artritis reumatoide?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a 1.3 to 3-fold increase in mortality, being the major cause of death from cardiovascular complications (40%-50%). Therefore, the initial approach should include cardiovascular risk (CVR) assessment using algorithms adapted for this population. Although, SCOREM is an important advance, there are data indicating that subclinical atherosclerosis may be underdiagnosed. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the strength of association between carotid ultrasound and SCOREM in this population, as well as the implication of disease activity. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional, observational, analytical study performed at the General Hospital of Ciudad Real, Spain, between June 2013 and May 2014. The evaluation of CVR was performed and, according to SCOREM, the population was divided into low and high (medium, high and very high) risk. We studied the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in low-risk patients. RESULTS: Of the total of 119 RA patients, 73.1% had traditional risk factors. Thirty-eight patients were excluded because of a previous cardiovascular event, diabetes mellitus and/or nephropathy. Atheromatous plaque was observed in 14.63% of the low-risk population. The factor with the strongest association to the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was a moderate or high activity of RA measured by the simplified disease activity index with an odds ratio of 4.95 (95% CI: 1.53-16.01). CONCLUSIONS: Although there was an acceptable correlation between the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis and SCOREM, there was a considerable proportion of atheromatous plaques in low-risk patients. Disease activity was the risk factor most closely associated with increased CVR.