title: Lipid paradox in rheumatoid arthritis: the impact of serum lipid measures and systemic inflammation on the risk of cardiovascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of systemic inflammation and serum lipids on cardiovascular disease (CVD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a population-based RA incident cohort (1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria first met between 1988 and 2007), details were collected of serum lipid measures, erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs), C-reactive protein (CRP) measures and cardiovascular events, including ischaemic heart disease and heart failure. Cox models were used to examine the association of lipids and inflammation with the risk of CVD and mortality, adjusting for age, sex and year of RA incidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 651 patients with RA (mean age 55.8 years, 69% female); 67% were rheumatoid factor positive. ESR was associated with the risk of CVD (HR=1.2 per 10 mm/h increase, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.3). Similar findings, although not statistically significant, were seen with CRP (p=0.07). A significant non-linear association for total cholesterol (TCh) with risk of CVD was found, with 3.3-fold increased risk for TCh <4 mmol/l (95% CI 1.5 to 7.2) and no increased risk of CVD for TCh ≥4 mmol/l (p=0.57). Low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL <2 mmol/l) was associated with marginally increased risk of CVD (p=0.10); there was no increased risk for LDL ≥2 mmol/l (p=0.76).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inflammatory measures (particularly, ESR) are significantly associated with the risk of CVD in RA. Lipids may have paradoxical associations with the risk of CVD in RA, whereby lower TCh and LDL levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Correspondence to Dr Sherine E Gabriel, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Foundation, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Myasoedova
authors.forename: Cynthia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Crowson
authors.forename: Hilal Maradit
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kremers
authors.forename: Veronique L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Fitz-Gibbon
authors.forename: Terry M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Therneau
authors.forename: Sherine E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Gabriel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008055:Lipids