Diastolic Dysfunction In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presents with an elevated incidence of congestive heart failure disease, which has a strong association with diastolic dysfunction, defined by left ventricular delayed relaxation pattern assessed by echocardiography.(1,2)Objectives:To describe the frequency of left ventricular delayed relaxation pattern in patients with RA, and the relationship with its clinical and serological characteristics, as well as with traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors.Methods:Descriptive, cross sectional, prospective study, in a Paraguayan cohort of patients with RA. This study had two phases: the first one, included a standardized questionnaire according to the variables included in the Cardiovascular Risk project (PINV15-0346), from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencias y Tecnología (CONACYT), and physical examination; the second one included laboratory sample collection performed by a specialized laboratory for serum biomarkers measurement for cardiovascular risk prediction (i.e endothelin, alpha-TNF, E-selectin, t-PA, VCAM, PAI-1 and high sensitivity-CRP levels) and echocardiographic assessment with a Doppler 7 GE USA equipment at a private facility. All patients signed informed consent. SPSS Statistics v23 was used for data analysis. Quantitative variables were presented as means and qualitative variables as frequencies. Chi square test was performed for comparisons between dichotomous variables. A p value ≤ 0.05 was used for statistical significance.Results:100 patients were included, 87% women, with a mean age of 51.36 ± 11.03 years, mean disease duration of 130.9 ± 102.64 months. 84.4% had positive ACPA. 43.3% had bone erosions, with an average of DAS 28-ESR 3.42 ± 1.1. 60% of patients presented with echocardiographic left ventricular delayed relaxation pattern. Regarding traditional CV risk factors, the same ones presented more frequently HBP (40% vs 19.4%, p = 0.037), DM2 (11.7% vs 0%, p = 0.036), obesity (38.3% vs 16.7%, p = 0.025), altered glycemia (27.1% vs 6.5%, p = 0.02), altered HbA1C (50.8% vs 22.6%, p = 0.01), higher mean weight (75.9 ± 17.62 p = 0.02), higher Framingham index high (20% vs 3.2%, p = 0.03). Regarding to clinical parameters, a higher frequency of erosions was found (55.8% vs 22.2%, p = 0.004), without other significant differences for disease activity, seropositivity or disease duration. As for serum biomarkers, higher levels of fibrinogen (639.71 ± 189.84, p = 0.04), homocysteine (11.74 ± 7.81, p = 0.05) and VCAM (519, 16 ± 203.68, p = 0.02) were found.Conclusion:We found a high frequency of diastolic dysfunction in patients with RA. They presented a significant association with traditional CV risk factors, erosions, and fibrinogen, homocysteine, and VCAM biomarkers. Adequate control of cardiovascular risk factors and echocardiographic assessment of these patients is essential in order to avoid the progression of heart functional damage.References:[1]Aslam F, Bandeali SJ, Khan NA, Alam M. Diastolic Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. Arthritis Care & Research. 2013;65(4):534-43.[2]Liang KP, Myasoedova E, Crowson CS, Davis JM, Roger VL, Karon BL, et al. Increased prevalence of diastolic dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 1 de septiembre de 2010;69(9):1665-70.Disclosure of Interests:None declared