PP.37.14] RELATIONSHIP OF CAROTID FEMORAL PULSE WAVE VELOCITY WITH AGE AND TIME OF EVOLUTION IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate variations in the carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (cfPWV) and it's association to age and time of disease evolution in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Design and method: RA patients were matched for age and sex with healthy controls. Subjects with a history of smoking, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer, liver disease, thyroid disease and kidney disease were excluded. The cfPWV was calculated using the Pulse Pen ® (Diatechne, Italy) device. Results: We included 76 women with RA and 28 healthy women, mean age (44.3 ± 10.92 vs. 43.0 ± 16.26, P = 0.654). cfPWV demonstrated good correlation with age (r = 0.459, P < 0.01), disease evolution time (r = 0.311, P = 0.008), triglycerides (r = 0.289, P = 0.03), total cholesterol (r = 0.421, P < 0.01) and atherogenic index (r = 0.320, P = 0.02). No association with disease activity was found. cfPWV was higher in those patients with RA >10 years evolution compared to patients with < 10 years of disease evolution and to controls (P < 0.05). Conclusions: A significant association between cfPWV was seen in patients with RA, and was also correlated to age and to a disease evolution >10 years long without finding a significant association with increased disease activity.