Characteristic | Healthy Subjects, n = 274 | Patients with RA, n = 96 |
---|---|---|
Demographics | ||
Age, yrs | 69 ± 6 | 63 ± 7* |
Sex, % males | 49 | 40 |
Cardiovascular risk factors | ||
Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg | 137 ± 20 | 142 ± 18* |
Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg | 74 ± 9 | 78 ± 9* |
Mean arterial pressure, mm Hg | 95 ± 12 | 99 ± 11* |
Carotid pulse pressure, mm Hg | 59 ± 17 | 53 ± 14* |
Antihypertensives, % | 25 | 24 |
Hypertension, % | 55 | 59* |
Total cholesterol, mmol/l | 5.80 ± 1.02 | 5.69 ± 1.01 |
LDL cholesterol, mmol/l | 3.7 (3.1–4.2) | 3.6 (3.0–4.4) |
HDL cholesterol, mmol/l | 1.51 ± 0.43 | 1.47 ± 0.48 |
Triglycerides, mmol/l | 1.2 (0.9–1.6) | 1.3 (1.0–1.7) |
Statin use, % | 13 | 12 |
Prior CV events, % | 8 | 15 |
Body mass index, kg/m2 | 26.1 ± 3.2 | 26.0 ± 4.3 |
Waist-hip ratio | 0.91 (0.83–0.97) | 0.89 (0.83–0.96) |
Current smoking, % | 15 | 31* |
Pack-yrs | 22 (9–34) | 28 (18–42) |
RA-related factors | ||
ESR, mm/h | — | 18 (8–27) |
CRP, mg/l | — | 6 (3–15) |
DAS28 | — | 3.44 ± 1.23 |
HAQ | — | 0.63 (0.13–1.00) |
Bone erosions, % | — | 81 |
RA disease duration, yrs | — | 8.7 ± 3.3 |
RF positivity, % | — | 70 |
Current NSAID use, % | — | 66 |
Current methotrexate use, % | — | 64 |
Current sulfasalazine use, % | — | 23 |
Current prednisone use, % | — | 14 |
↵* p < 0.05. HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; NSAID: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; CV: cardiovascular; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; DAS28: 28-joint Disease Activity Score; RA: rheumatoid arthritis; RF: rheumatoid factor.