Autonomic Dysfunction Precedes Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Prospective Cohort Study

135 subjects total: 50 individuals at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (AR subjects), 20 healthy subjects (HS), and 20 RA patients in the prospective study cohort, plus 45 AR subjects in an independent validation cohort. AR subjects were defined as positive for IgM-RF, ACPA or both, having arthralgia or positive family history, but without clinical arthritis.

Healthy subjects (for cross-sectional baseline comparisons) and at-risk subjects who did not develop arthritis (for longitudinal comparisons)

Resting heart rate (RHR) and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters; development of clinically manifest arthritis in the validation cohortsurrogate