Study of some risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis

Abo Elnoor, El Badry I.; Abbas, Wael A.; Salim, Madiha Y.B.; El Hakeem, Ebtsam M.A.

doi:10.4103/JCMRP.JCMRP_146_18

Study of some risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis

Authors

Abstract

Objective
The objective of this study was to evaluate some of risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Patient and methods
A total of 60 patients with RA who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology 2010 classification criteria were included, and 20 healthy participants served as a control group. Patients answered questions about age, smoking, full reproductive history, and therapeutic history. Venous blood sampling was taken, and the following investigations were done: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase), rheumatoid factor, anticyclic citrullinated peptide, serum calcium and phosphorus, and serum vitamin D level.
Results
The mean age of patients with RA was 52.30 ± 14.71 years. Overall, 5% of patients were current smokers, 61.7% were passive smokers, and 8% were exsmokers. BMI of patients was 30.31 ± 4.73 kg/m. Age at menarche was insignificantly earlier in patients than control group (10.10 ± 0.99 vs. 11. 17 ± 1.17 years; = 0.28). There was severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) in 45% of the patients, insufficient (10–24 ng/ml) in 46.7%, and optimal (25–100 ng/ml) in 8.5%. There was a significant inverse correlation between serum vitamin D levels and RA disease activity score.
Conclusion
RA is more common in women. Obesity, smoking, and reproductive state in women are risk factors for developing RA. Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with RA, and as the vitamin D level decreases, the disease activity increases.

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