Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is inflammatory autoimmune disease, which is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. In this study clinical data were analysed to look for a risk factors for the development of cardiovascular events in RA patients.

Materials and methods: The case control study was done between RA patients, who admitted to Rheumatological department and had cardiovascular events history and those, who haven’t. Clinical, laboratory tests, arterial stiffness, flow-mediated dilatation measurement were analysed to look for a risk factors for the development of cardiovascular events.

Results: 54 patients, who were diagnosed with RA, formed the case control study by disease duration and age. 18 of them had a history of cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke were the most common) and 36 were controls (without the event). 90,7% were women. Mean age was 62,9(7,1) years, mean disease duration - 15,5(10,2) years. Patients with history of cardiovascular events had higher: number of swollen and tender joints, disease activity score (DAS28), body mass index (BMI), level of ESR, CRP, total cholesterol, triglyceride, augmentation index, aortic pulse pressure. Cases with cardiovascular event were also more likely to have taken higher doses of corticosteroids compared to controls. In statistical analysis, only triglyceride level and aortic pulse pressure were significant risk factor for the development of cardiovascular events (p<0,05). The other mentioned factors have drawn near but haven’t crossed the level of statistical significance.

This research was funded by a grant (No. MIP – 83/2010) from the Research Council of Lithuania.