308
Views
20
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Co-morbidities in Finnish patients with rheumatoid arthritis: 15-year follow-up

, , &
Pages 451-456 | Accepted 24 Mar 2013, Published online: 04 Jul 2013
 

Abstract

Objectives: To study the prevalence and importance of co-morbidities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at the time of the diagnosis and after a 15-year follow-up, focusing on the relationship between co-morbidity and disease activity.

Method: The study population comprised 87 patients with early RA (mean age 44 years, 79% female, and 65% rheumatoid factor positive) collected from the Helsinki area between 1986 and 1989. Data for co-morbidities were collected at baseline and at a 15-year examination or at the time of death, and the age-weighted Charlson co-morbidity index (CCIa) at baseline was calculated for each patient. The disease activity score based on 28 joints (DAS28) was assessed with three parameters at baseline and during the first year (DAS28 AUC0–12). The relationship between co-morbidity and activity of RA was studied in groups CCIa 0, CCIa 1–2, and CCIa ≥ 3.

Results: Adequate data were available in 80 patients with a mean age of 60 years and a mean disease duration of 15.4 years. At baseline, 20% of patients had at least one co-morbid condition (CC). At endpoint, 60% of the patients had some co-morbidity: 34% had one CC, 19% two, 5% three, and 2% four CCs. The most common end-point CCs were hypertension (30%), cardiovascular diseases (14%), and malignancies (11%). DAS28 AUC0–12 and DAS28 at end-point were higher in groups CCIa1–2 and CCIa ≥ 3 than in CCIa 0.

Conclusions: Co-morbidities increased during the 15 years of RA and the patients with high baseline CCIa showed higher disease activity both in early disease and at end-point.

Acknowledgements

This study received support from the Helsinki University Central Hospital Funds, the National Doctoral Programme of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Biomaterials (TBDP), and the Finnish Physicians Corporations.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.