THE IMPACT OF GENDER ON THE RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
- Mohammad Adawi, Israel
Abstract
Background and Aims
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease, affecting women more than men, with a more aggressive course in women.
Methods
A prospective study that recruited 58 patients (46 women aged 56 ± 12 years) with active long-standing RA disease (>12 months). Our goals were to measure their endothelial function, part of the cardiovascular risk assessment. The Brachial Artery method measured endothelial function (the flow mediated percent change [FMD percentage] of the brachial artery diameter). A senior Rheumatologist clinically evaluated all subjects. Mann Whitney rank sum test estimated gender differences among the RA patients.
Results
Median FMD% change for men was -6.07%, while median FMD% change for women was 0.44% (Z = 2.38, P = 0.01). Baseline Brachial artery diameter was larger in men (Z = 2.52, P = 0.01); however, tender joints count and BMI were greater in women (Z=-2.24, P = 0.01; Z=-3.99, P = 0.001), respectively.
Conclusions
Women with RA have significantly better endothelial function than men with RA. It means that even though RA is 3-fold more prevalent in women, women are more protected from atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and cardiac events.