Association of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease characteristics and medications with increased BP variability during the first year after RA incidence in 343 patients with RA. High BP variability was defined based on the top 25% values (cutoffs were 16.5 mm Hg for systolic BP variability and 9.8 mm Hg for diastolic BP variability). Three hundred forty-three patients with RA had BP values sufficient for calculation of BP variability during the first year after RA incidence, and were included in this analysis. All values are given as n (%), unless specified otherwise.
| RA Characteristic | Value | High Systolic BP Variability*, OR (95% CI) | High Diastolic BP Variability*, OR (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESR, mean ± SD | 23.3 ± 19.5 | 1.06† (0.93, 1.21) | 1.00† (0.87, 1.14) |
| RF positivity | 211 (62) | 1.20 (0.70, 2.04) | 0.78 (0.46, 1.31) |
| Rheumatoid nodules | 67 (20) | 0.95 (0.50, 1.79) | 0.96 (0.50, 1.84) |
| Erosions/destructive changes | 96 (28) | 0.62 (0.34, 1.13) | 0.68 (0.37, 1.22) |
| Large joint swelling | 217 (63) | 1.32 (0.76, 2.27) | 1.15 (0.67, 1.97) |
| Joint surgery | 28 (8) | 0.59 (0.22, 1.57) | 1.18 (0.48, 2.88) |
| Use of antirheumatic medications in the first year | |||
| Methotrexate | 183 (53) | 1.60 (0.94, 2.73) | 1.17 (0.69, 1.98) |
| Hydroxychloroquine | 204 (59) | 0.65 (0.39, 1.08) | 0.70 (0.42, 1.17) |
| Other DMARD | 33 (10) | 0.94 (0.40, 2.24) | 1.16 (0.50, 2.69) |
| Biologic response modifiers | 34 (10) | 1.21 (0.51, 2.86) | 0.87 (0.37, 2.07) |
| Glucocorticosteroids | 256 (75) | 0.92 (0.51, 1.67) | 0.95 (0.52, 1.73) |
| Cox-2 inhibitors | 157 (46) | 1.99 (1.18, 3.34) | 1.74 (1.03, 2.94) |
| ASA for arthritis ## | 54 (16) | 0.90 (0.45, 1.82) | 1.06 (0.52, 2.16) |
| NSAID | 300 (87) | 0.70 (0.34, 1.44) | 1.21 (0.56, 2.58) |
↵* Adjusted for age, sex, calendar year of RA incidence, hypertension, and use of antihypertensive medications.
↵† Per 10 mm/h increase.
↵## The use of > 6 tablets/day of acetylsalicylic acid (> 1950 mg/day) for ≥ 3 months. ASA: aspirin; DMARD: disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; RF: rheumatoid factor; BP: blood pressure; Cox-2: cyclooxygenase.