Inflammatory measures and carotid artery remodeling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Results are presented as regression coefficients (95% CI). Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and carotid pulse pressure.
| Variables | LD | cIMT | IAD | CWS | CWT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antiinflammatory medication | |||||
| Current NSAID use, yes/no | −0.089 (−0.421; 0.243) | 0.014 (−0.038; 0.065) | −0.062 (−0.410; 0.286) | −14.6 (−50.8; 21.5) | −5.0 (−25.8; 15.9) |
| Current MTX use, yes/no | −0.160 (−0.483; 0.163) | 0.001 (–0.050; 0.051) | −0.159 (−0.498; 0.180) | −18.2 (−53.4; 17.1) | −12.0 (−32.3; 8.2) |
| Current SSZ use, yes/no | 0.202 (−0.168; 0.572) | 0.031 (−0.026; 0.088) | 0.264 (−0.123; 0.650) | 14.9 (−25.6; 55.5) | 19.7 (−3.3; 42.7) |
| Current prednisone use, yes/no | 0.279 (−0.187; 0.744) | −0.073 (−0.144; −0.002)* | 0.133 (−0.358; 0.624) | 34,8 (−15.9; 85.5) | −1.3 (−30.7; 28.1) |
| RA-related variables | |||||
| RF positivity, yes/no | 0.149 (−0.194; 0.492) | 0.030 (−0.023; 0.082) | 0.208 (−0.150; 0.566) | 8.5 (−29.1; 46.0) | 14.8 (−6.6; 36.2) |
| Erosive disease, yes/no | 0.187 (−0.207; 0.581) | −0.019 (−0.080; 0.042) | 0.149 (−0.264; 0.563) | 14.9 (−28.2; 58.0) | 3.4 (−21.5; 28.2) |
| ESR, mm/h | 0.001 (−0.010; 0.011) | −0.001 (0.002; 0.001) | 0.001 (−0.011; 0.011) | 0.04 (−1.10; 1.18) | 0.01 (−0.7; 0.7) |
| CRP, mg/l | −0.006 (−0.015; 0.004) | −0.002 (−0.003; −0.001)* | −0.001 (−0.019; 0.001) | 0.4 (−0.7; 1.4) | −0.3 (−0.9; 0.4) |
| DAS28 | −0.024 (−0.151; 0.103) | −0.006 (−0.026; 0.014) | −0.035 (−0.169; 0.098) | −4.0 (−17.9; 9.9) | −3.7 (−11.6; 4.2) |
| DAS28 < 2.6, yes/no | −0.212 (−0.564; 0.130) | 0.017 (−0.036; 0.071) | −0.181 (−0.540; 0.181) | −11.5 (−49.5; 26.4) | −8.9 (−30.6; 12.8) |
| HAQ-DI | 0.057 (−0.276; 0.390) | −0.052 (−0.102; −0.001)* | −0.047 (−0.399; 0.306) | 15.6 (−20.6; 51.9) | −3.4 (−24.5; 17.7) |
| RA duration, yrs | 0.006 (−0.042; 0.053) | −0.003 (−0.010; 0.005) | 0.001 (−0.049; 0.051) | 3.4 (−1.7; 8.5) | 1.8 (−1.2; 4.7) |
↵* p < 0.05. NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; MTX: methotrexate; SSZ: sulfasalazine; RF: rheumatoid factor; DAS28: Disease Activity Score of 28 joints; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; HAQ-DI: Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index.