Clinico-demographic differences and severity of rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

Objective: To find out the differences in disease severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) depending on clinic-demographic variables and determine association between clinic-demographic variables and disease severity of RA. Study Design: Cross-sectional Analytical study. Setting: Department of Medicine & Allied at CMA Hospital, Azra Naheed Medical College, Superior University Lahore. Period: August 2021 to April 2022. Material & Methods: After IRB approval 266 patients, aged 21 to 80 years, of both sexes, diagnosed with RA were enrolled. DAS-28 score was employed to assess disease severity. Demographic information and medical records of the patients were assessed and recorded. SPSS version 21 was used for data analysis. Results: Among the 133 patients with active disease, 113 (85.0%) were females and 20 (15.0%) male having mean age 40.0+12.8 years. Mean duration of disease in years was 8.3+6.2 and mean DAS-28 score was 5.5+0.9. RA Factor was positive in 96 (72.2%) and Anti-CCP antibody was seen in 78 (58.8%). Mean Hemoglobin level was 11.7+1.1 g/dl and anemia was found in 47 (35.5%) patients. Mean TLC and platelet count were 8.8+2.2 ×10⁹/L and 375.9+83.5 ×10⁹/L respectively. Among the 133 patients with LDA/remission, 106 (79.7%) were females and 27 (20.3%) male having mean age 44.5+15.5 years. Mean duration of disease in years was 8.5+7.6 and Mean DAS-28 score was 2.5+0.5. RA Factor was positive in 106 (79.7%) and Anti-CCP antibody was seen in 94 (70.7%). Mean Hemoglobin level was 12.6+1.8 g/dl and anemia was found in 29 (21.8%) patients. Mean TLC and platelet count were 9.5+3.5 ×10⁹/L and 333.7+109.1 ×10⁹/L respectively. Conclusion: Anti-CCP antibody positive patients with anemja and having disease for more than 3 years are more likely to have active rheumatoid arthritis whereas there was no significant difference with regards to age, sex and RA Factor status.