TY - JOUR
T1 - Cerebrovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients
T2 - insights from carotid artery atherosclerosis in the Paracelsus 10,000 study
AU - Ausserwinkler, Mathias
AU - Gensluckner, Sophie
AU - Frey, Vanessa
AU - Gostner, Isabella
AU - Paulweber, Bernhard
AU - Trinka, Eugen
AU - Langthaler, Patrick
AU - Datz, Christian
AU - Iglseder, Bernhard
AU - Thiel, Jens
AU - Neumann, Hans-Joerg
AU - Flamm, Maria
AU - Aigner, Elmar
AU - Wernly, Bernhard
N1 - Ausserwinkler, Gensluckner, Paulweber, Aigner:
First Department of Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Frey, Gostner, Trinka, Langthaler: Department of Neurology, Neurointensive Care and Neurorehabilitation, Member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Frey, Trinka, Langthaler: 4
Neuroscience Institute, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Flamm, Wernly: Institute of General Practice, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health and Healthcare Research, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Wernly: Lehr-KH Oberndorf und Barmherzige Brüder
PY - 2025/1/18
Y1 - 2025/1/18
N2 - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease marked by systemic inflammation. While RA primarily affects the joints, its systemic effects may lead to an increased cerebro- and cardiovascular risk. Atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries is a significant risk factor for cerebrovascular events and serves as a surrogate marker for cardiovascular risk. This study explores the link between RA and carotid artery atherosclerosis with data from the Paracelsus 10,000 Study. Baseline assessments were conducted on individuals randomly selected from Salzburg and its surrounding regions. Participants diagnosed with RA based on ACR-EULAR classification criteria and who underwent carotid artery ultrasound were included. Data were gathered from a total of 9729 participants, among whom 299 were diagnosed with RA. Carotid arteries were examined using ultrasound imaging. The primary endpoint was the difference in the prevalence of plaque presence between the RA and non-RA groups. One univariate (Model I) and three multivariate analyses were conducted, with adjustments in Model II incorporating SCORE 2, while Model III accounted for metabolic syndrome, age and sex. Additionally, Model IV included further adjustments for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Plaque presence was defined as the ultrasound detection of plaque formation larger than 0 mm2, regardless of whether it was unilateral or bilateral. Additional assessments included carotid stenosis, intima-media thickness (IMT) and total plaque area (TPA). RA patients had a higher prevalence of plaque (50%) compared to non-RA individuals (38%). The odds ratio (OR) for plaque presence in RA patients versus non-RA individuals was 1.64 (95% CI 1.30-2.06). This association persisted after adjusting for SCORE2, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.65 (95% CI 1.26-2.15). The association remained significant when adjusting for metabolic syndrome, age and sex (aOR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.02-1.72) and also in Model IV, which included further adjustment for hs-CRP (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.02-1.74). The findings underscore an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease associated with RA. This study highlights the importance of thorough cerebrovascular and cardiovascular risk assessments, along with proactive management, for RA patients to reduce this risk. Recognizing the substantial impact of RA on stroke and cerebrovascular disease is important for enhancing patient care strategies. Carotid ultrasound appears to be an effective method for atherosclerosis screening in RA patients.
AB - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease marked by systemic inflammation. While RA primarily affects the joints, its systemic effects may lead to an increased cerebro- and cardiovascular risk. Atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries is a significant risk factor for cerebrovascular events and serves as a surrogate marker for cardiovascular risk. This study explores the link between RA and carotid artery atherosclerosis with data from the Paracelsus 10,000 Study. Baseline assessments were conducted on individuals randomly selected from Salzburg and its surrounding regions. Participants diagnosed with RA based on ACR-EULAR classification criteria and who underwent carotid artery ultrasound were included. Data were gathered from a total of 9729 participants, among whom 299 were diagnosed with RA. Carotid arteries were examined using ultrasound imaging. The primary endpoint was the difference in the prevalence of plaque presence between the RA and non-RA groups. One univariate (Model I) and three multivariate analyses were conducted, with adjustments in Model II incorporating SCORE 2, while Model III accounted for metabolic syndrome, age and sex. Additionally, Model IV included further adjustments for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Plaque presence was defined as the ultrasound detection of plaque formation larger than 0 mm2, regardless of whether it was unilateral or bilateral. Additional assessments included carotid stenosis, intima-media thickness (IMT) and total plaque area (TPA). RA patients had a higher prevalence of plaque (50%) compared to non-RA individuals (38%). The odds ratio (OR) for plaque presence in RA patients versus non-RA individuals was 1.64 (95% CI 1.30-2.06). This association persisted after adjusting for SCORE2, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.65 (95% CI 1.26-2.15). The association remained significant when adjusting for metabolic syndrome, age and sex (aOR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.02-1.72) and also in Model IV, which included further adjustment for hs-CRP (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.02-1.74). The findings underscore an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease associated with RA. This study highlights the importance of thorough cerebrovascular and cardiovascular risk assessments, along with proactive management, for RA patients to reduce this risk. Recognizing the substantial impact of RA on stroke and cerebrovascular disease is important for enhancing patient care strategies. Carotid ultrasound appears to be an effective method for atherosclerosis screening in RA patients.
KW - Humans
KW - Arthritis, Rheumatoid/epidemiology
KW - Female
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Aged
KW - Carotid Artery Diseases/epidemiology
KW - Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Prevalence
KW - Plaque, Atherosclerotic/diagnostic imaging
KW - Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology
KW - C-Reactive Protein/analysis
KW - Risk Assessment
U2 - 10.1007/s00296-024-05781-4
DO - 10.1007/s00296-024-05781-4
M3 - Original Article
C2 - 39825928
SN - 0172-8172
VL - 45
SP - 33
JO - RHEUMATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
JF - RHEUMATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
IS - 2
M1 - 33
ER -