Extent of atherosclerosis after 11-year prospective follow-up in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis was affected by disease severity at diagnosis

Objective Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The underlying cause is not clear. In this prospective study, patients with early RA were investigated for associations between subclinical atherosclerosis and CVD risk factors as well as inflammation. Method At diagnosis, RA patients were recruited into a prospective study. A subgroup was included (n = 55) for ultrasound measurements of intima-media thickness (IMT) at inclusion (T0), and after 5 years (T5) and 11 years (T11). Thirty-one age and gender-matched controls were also included for comparison. Results IMT increased significantly between T0 and T11 among patients and controls (p < 0.0001). No statistically significant differences in IMT between patients and controls were detected at T11, T5, or T0 (p > 0.05 for all). In simple regression models, IMT at T11 was significantly associated with age (p < 0.0001), as well as systolic blood pressure at T0 (p < 0.01) and T11 (p < 0.01) among RA patients. Furthermore, the composite Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) measurements (p < 0.0001) and Reynolds risk score (p < 0.01) and the radiographic Larsen score (p < 0.05) at T0 were all significantly associated with IMT at T11. Results from conditional logistic regression analysis showed an increased progression rate between T0 and T11 in the RA group compared with controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion We found increased atherosclerotic development among patients with RA compared with controls 11 years after diagnosis. The atherosclerotic burden was associated with disease severity at baseline.