AB0306 DISEASE ACTIVITY AND PREVALENCE OF CAROTID PLAQUE ARE INCREASED IN SEDENTARY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITISPATIENTS

Abstract

Background Multiple benefits from physical activity (PA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have been described; exercise in RA is associated with a cardiovascular (CV) protective role, resulting in lower waist-hip ratio, vascular stiffness and hypertension (1). Other important advantage of PA in RA is the impact observed in disease activity; regular PA is associated with reduced DAS28 (2). There are no previous studies evaluating the effect of exercise on disease activity and carotid Ultrasound (US) findings in Mexican-mestizo RA patients. Objectives To compare clinical characteristics and carotid US findings of Mexican-mestizo RA patients who perform PA to sedentary RA patients. Methods Cross-sectional, observational, comparative study. We included RA patients aged 40 to 75 years that fulfilled the 2010 EULAR criteria. Patients with prior atherosclerotic CV diseases and overlap syndromes were excluded. Clinical history, blood samples, physical exam and carotid US were performed. Carotid plaque (CP) was defined as a focal narrowing ≥0.5 mm of the surrounding lumen or a carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) ≥1.2 mm, and increased cIMT was defined as ≥0.9 mm. Patients were classified in two groups: those who are sedentary and those who regularly perform PA (defined as ≥120 min/week). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine normal distribution. Categorical variables are expressed as total number (%), and numerical variables as median (q25-q75). Chi square and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to compare groups and considered significant if p Results A total of 334 RA patients were included. Clinical characteristics are shown in table 1. Patients who exercised had lower disease activity and BMI. Carotid US was performed in 127 patients (Table 2). There was a higher prevalence of CP, bilateral CP and increased cIMT in sedentary patients. Sedentary RA patients had an increased risk of CP (OR 3.1 [IC95% 1.0-9.7, p=0.04]). Conclusion Patients who perform PA had significantly lower disease activity and BMI. A higher prevalence of CP, increased cIMT and bilateral CP was found in sedentary patients. Sedentary RA patients had an increased risk of CP. These results are similar to previously described in other populations and may be indicators of the protective effect of PA in RA patients. Rheumatologists should encourage their patients to exercise regularly.