The relationship between epicardial adipose tissue and arterial stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

To evaluate the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and arterial stiffness (AS) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), considering cardiovascular risk factors and disease characteristics.

A total of 84 RA patients were included in this cross-sectional study. EAT and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) were measured ultrasonographically while aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), the main AS parameter, was determined using an oscillometric device.

Mean duration of RA was 12±9.5 years and disease activity score was 4.3±1.4, as assessed by Disease Activity Score-28 using C-reactive protein (DAS-28 CRP). The correlation analysis displayed a significant positive correlation between cIMT, aPWV and EAT (r= 0.037, p<0.001; r= 0.338, p=0.002 and r= 0.317, p=0.003). When a cutoff value of aPWV ≥10 m/s was established, patients with increased aPWV had significantly higher body mass index (p=0.04), waist circumference (p=0.01), triglycerides (p=0.04), EAT (p<0.001), hypertension (p=0.03) and marginally C-reactive protein (CRP) (p=0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that hypertension (p=0.033), increased CRP (p=0.016) and EAT (p=0.005) are the only independent predictors for increased aPWV.

Our study found that increased AS independently correlated with EAT in patients with RA. Although the evaluation of these two parameters awaits further evidence to be included in the risk algorithms for CVD prevention, their role in patients with inflammatory diseases may be even more significant than in the general population.