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Carotid intima media thickness in rheumatoid arthritis as compared to control subjects: a meta-analysis

Alper M van Sijl1, Mike J Peters, Dirk K Knol

  • 1Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism
|October 5, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Rheumatoid arthritis patients show increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), indicating higher cardiovascular risk. This meta-analysis confirms elevated cIMT in RA, supporting its use in risk assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a key indicator for cardiovascular risk assessment.
  • Evaluating cIMT differences in RA populations is crucial for understanding cardiovascular burden.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically evaluate the difference in cIMT between rheumatoid arthritis patients and control groups.
  • To assess the utility of cIMT as a cardiovascular risk marker in RA.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search and random effects meta-analysis were conducted.
  • 22 studies comparing cIMT in RA patients and controls were included.
  • Meta-regression analyzed the influence of age and cardiovascular risk factors on cIMT differences.

Main Results:

  • RA patients exhibited significantly greater cIMT compared to controls in 17 out of 22 studies.
  • The overall mean cIMT difference was 0.09 mm (95% CI: 0.07-0.11 mm).
  • Differences in baseline cardiovascular risk factors, not age, likely contributed to heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

  • The findings support the increased cardiovascular risk associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Carotid intima-media thickness is a valuable measure in observational studies of RA patients.
  • Further prospective studies are needed to establish cIMT's role as a surrogate cardiovascular risk marker in RA.
Abstract

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