Key result
In rheumatoid arthritis, depressive symptoms (OR 3.41, P=0.032) and caregiver stress (OR 2.86, P=0.014) were associated with increased odds of moderate/severe coronary artery calcium.
Why the study?
Are psychosocial comorbidities differentially associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to controls?
Cohort (n=1,268)
Are psychosocial comorbidities differentially associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to controls?
Psychosocial comorbidities such as depression and stress are strongly associated with subclinical atherosclerosis specifically in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, highlighting the potential importance of psychosocial screening in this high-risk population.
Psychosocial screening may aid CV risk stratification in RA; extends observational data but remains hypothesis-generating.
OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and subclinical atherosclerosis, but the reasons for the excess risk are unclear. We explored whether psychosocial comorbidities, which may be associated with CVD in the general population, are differentially associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in RA compared to controls. METHODS: Data were from a longitudinal cohort study of 195 RA patients and 1,073 non-RA controls. Using validated scales, heterogeneity in the associations of psychosocial measures (depression, stress, anxiety/anger, support, discrimination/hassles) with measures of subclinical atherosclerosis (coronary artery calcium [CAC] and carotid intima-media thickness [IMT]/plaque) were compared in RA and non-RA groups using multivariable generalized linear models. Computed tomography and ultrasound were used to identify CAC and IMT/plaque, respectively. CAC >100 units was used to define moderate/severe CAC. RESULTS: In RA, per-unit higher anxiety scores (odds ratio [OR] 1.10, P = 0.029), anger scores (OR 1.14, P = 0.037), depressive symptoms (OR 3.41, P = 0.032), and caregiver stress (OR 2.86, P = 0.014) were associated with increased odds of CAC >100 units after adjustment for relevant covariates. These findings persisted despite adjustment for markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels) and were seen only in RA, not in controls (adjusted multiplicative interaction P = 0.001-0.077). In RA, job stress was associated with an increased risk of carotid plaque (adjusted OR = 3.21, P = 0.019), and increasing social support was associated with lower internal carotid IMT (adjusted P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms, stress, anger/anxiety, and social support may preferentially affect CVD risk in RA, and screening/treatment for psychosocial morbidities in RA may help ameliorate the additional CVD burden.
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Liu et al. (2015) conducted a cohort in Rheumatoid arthritis (n=1,268). Psychosocial comorbidities (depression, stress, anxiety/anger) vs. Non-RA controls was evaluated on Moderate/severe coronary artery calcium (CAC >100 units) (OR 3.41, p=0.032). In rheumatoid arthritis, depressive symptoms (OR 3.41, P=0.032) and caregiver stress (OR 2.86, P=0.014) were associated with increased odds of moderate/severe coronary artery calcium.
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