Lipid Profile Changes in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Investigation of Different Affecting Factors

It has been proved that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is linked to dyslipidemia and the risk of cardiovascular complications is higher in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate dyslipidemia in RA patients. In this study, RA patients were enrolled regarding the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Their demographic information and medication profiles were evaluated. Clinical assessments were performed by evaluation of disease activity score (DAS28) and visual analogue scale. Moreover, laboratory investigations of lipid profile including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (Chol), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were performed. From a total of 150 patients with the mean age of 54.9±16.8 years, 65.3% were diagnosed with dyslipidemia. Females in menopausal ages had a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia as well as patients with longer disease duration. Mean serum HDL, LDL, Chol, and TG were 52.76±13.8, 96.65±21.6, 177.26±38.9, and 128.04±33.9, respectively. Considering DAS28, 100% of the patients with high disease activity were diagnosed with dyslipidemia. In the moderate and low disease activity groups and also patients in remission, the ratio was 77.02%, 66.66%, and 43.75%, respectively. According to the results, patients under treatment with prednisolone and methotrexate were more affected by dyslipidemia than those with prednisolone, methotrexate, and hydroxychloroquine. Moreover, in the patients under prednisolone, methotrexate, and leflunomide treatment, the prevalence of dyslipidemia was significantly lower than those used only prednisolone and methotrexate. Altogether, it is necessary to have more clinical suspicion towards dyslipidemia and its complications in the patients with a greater number of affecting factors.